Cemetery Rules

Purchase of Lots:

1. The terms “owner”, “lot owner”, or “ownership” shall be constructed to mean the right to use a lot, plot or portion thereof for burial purposes only, and all such owners, persons within the cemetery, and all lots and portions thereof sold shall be subject to the provisions of the charter and bylaws of the Association, laws of the State of Iowa, amendments and alterations thereof and additions thereto made from time to time; and reference in the deed to such charter provisions, bylaws and rules and regulations governing the same shall be of the same force and effect as if set forth in full in said deed.

Put simply, this means you do not own the land or have ownership rights of any type to any particular land. Instead, you have an easement or license to use the land for the purpose of keeping your loves one's remains there.

2. To purchase a burial space, the prospective buyer should see the Sexton or contact a Board Member, who in turn will contact the Sexton for available spaces in the area the buyer has chosen. When the rules and regulations have been read, the contract agreement has been signed, and the lots are paid in full, a deed will be issued to the buyer. The price of the space(s) includes maintenance care (formerly called perpetual care), and does not include memorial maintenance or the cost of the grave opening at the time of a burial.

3. Lots are 12ft. X 24ft. and contain 6 spaces measuring 4ft. X 12ft. Burial spaces may be purchased as single spaces of 4ft. X 12ft. or lots of 12ft. X 24ft. Spaces serving as walkways can be sold at the discretion of the Sexton or any board person serving on the Executive Board of Directors elected by the board in full.

4. When a lot has been purchased within the cemetery enclosure, it cannot be taken for debt, or sold for secular uses, and the ground cannot be encroached upon for any purpose other than for cemetery purposes and maintenance.

5. Ownership of a lot or portion thereof includes the right of interment or inurnment. The lot can be used for no other purpose and may not be divided into smaller portions than originally laid down in the plat thereof when full burials are made.

6. A person who owns a space or lot has the right to sell or transfer rights to a third party. To transfer ownership, both parties need to notify the association secretary in writing of transfer and then a new deed will be issued. The cost of a deed transfer is $5.00. (See fee schedule).

7. Transfer of ownership: unless a direct decedent (surviving spouse and/or living child) a person who owns a space or lot who wishes to allow another person burial rights to the said space or lot – the association requires the space or lot to be transferred into the new owner prior to burial. The cost of a deed transfer is $5.00. (See fee schedule).

8. It shall be the duty of the lot or plot owner to notify the Association of any changes in contact information. Notice sent to the plot owner at the last address on file in the office of the Secretary of the Association shall be considered sufficient and proper legal notice for all purposes.

9. Should a lot owner die without a devise or any known heirs, the title to such lot or lots or portions thereof shall revert to the Association.

Interments/Inurnments:

1. All interments/Inurnments shall be made in an approved permanent type container or concrete type vault.

2. All grave markings and/or grave openings shall be made under the direction and supervision of the Sexton or any board person serving on the Executive Board of Directors elected by the board in full. Person(s) ordering grave markings and/or grave openings will be held responsible for payment of the grave opening fee within 30 days of order to the Woodland Cemetery Association. (See fee schedule) Person(s) ordering grave markings and/or grave openings shall allow Sexton 24 hours’ notice prior to starting procedure. Any Board person serving on the Executive Board of Directors elected by the board in full is eligible to supervise the placement of the grave opening. Grave diggers shall be approved by the Sexton or any board person serving on the Executive Board of Directors elected by the board in full prior to opening a grave, and the grave diggers will be held responsible for any damage done to area by them. A current certificate of insurance needs to be on file annually with the Woodland Cemetery Association showing a minimum of $25m in property damage liability.

3. All Burial Urns shall be located by and under the direction and supervision of the Sexton or any board person serving on the Executive Board of Directors elected by the board in full. Person(s) ordering Urn placement will be held responsible for the payment fee to the Woodland Cemetery Association within 30 days. (See fee schedule) Persons ordering in ground Urn burials shall allow Sexton 24 hours’ notice prior to starting procedure. Any Board person serving on the Executive Board of Directors elected by the board in full is eligible to supervise the placement of an Urn burial. Whoever supervises the Urn burial will be responsible for digging, replacing soil, disposal of excess soil, compaction of soil, seeding and maintenance for one (1) year. Person(s) digging the urn opening shall be approved by Sexton or any board person serving on the Executive Board of Directors elected by the board in full. All Urns shall be placed no less than 42 inches deep below ground level to top of unit. Three in ground cremain burial urns can be placed in one burial space. Spreading of ashes above ground is prohibited. No urns shall be placed with a burial vault.

Memorials/Foundations will be completed by a licensed monument company:

1. No foundation or digging before first consulting the Sexton or a Board member.

2. All foundations must be of concrete with 3 parts gravel and 1 part cement

3. The foundation must have no less than 5” inches extension on each end and no less than 4”inches on the front and back.

4. Foundations must be at least 42”inches deep.

5. Depth of the foundation applies to overall size.

6. Above rules were effective July 1, 1994.

7. Benches must be approved by Association Board and must be in line with other monuments.

8. All settings of monuments and markers, transportation of all tools, materials, etc. within cemetery grounds shall be subject to the supervision and control of the Sexton or a Board member.

9. Monuments and markers will not be permitted on a lot until the lot is fully paid for.

10. The Woodland Cemetery Board reserves the right to refuse permission to erect memorials they deem not in keeping with good appearance of the cemetery.

11. Rules 7 through 10 were effective as of June 2009.

12. To protect the grounds and especially improved lots and graves from damage, all excavations or the openings of graves for burials will be completed by the Association’s gravedigger, whom will be determined by the Association, and at rates determined by the Association.

13. The owners of lots are prohibited from raising or depressing the surface of the same above or below the surrounding ground.

14. The excavation or openings of graves by family members is not allowed.

15. All stone, markers, monuments, or other such structures upon a lot shall be of such design as shall be approved by the Association, and shall be so placed as not to encroach upon any other lot or upon any walkway or alleyway of the cemetery; and the Association reserves the right at any time to remove or have removed any enclosure, monument or other structure, or any inscription that the Association may deem improper or detrimental.

16. To protect the grounds and especially improved lots and graves from damage, placing of stones, markers, monuments or other similar structures shall be done only with the approval of the Association. An Association Board member shall be notified prior to placing all such structures. A member of the Association shall locate and mark all placements.

17. Foundations must contain a minimum of a 4-inch granite top.

18. Urn houses used as headstones are subject to plot fees and no one shall place an urn or have a service where a cremation is placed in the Urn house without the knowledge of the Sexton and/or any board member.

19. The charge for opening and/or closing (when applicable) and sodding/seeding a grave shall be paid to the Woodland Cemetery Association within 30 days.

20. All landscaping including planting of trees, plants, shrubs, or flowers will be done by the Association. The owners of lots are prohibited from planting and/or removing any trees, plants, shrubs or flowers without the permission of the Association.

21. If existing trees, plants, shrubs or flowers in any lot or plot, because of their roots, branches or otherwise, shall become detrimental to the adjacent lots, plots, or avenues, or unsightly or inconvenient to passengers or pedestrians, the Association reserves the right to remove said trees or shrubs or such. Existing individual lot plantings removed by the Association when they become unsightly or undesirable will not be replaced.

22. No person or firm shall be permitted to do gardening or other similar work on any lot or plot. The Association reserves the right to disapprove and prohibit any work if it finds that the same may be detrimental to nearby lots or plots of the Cemetery as a whole or for other good and sufficient reasons.

23. Fresh cut flowers may be used at any time and will remain until, in the judgement of the Association, they become wilted or unsightly. Containers for cut flowers are to be of a type level with the ground surface or of the type to be disposed of when flowers are removed.

24. For fresh cut or artificial flowers / decorations to remain, they MUST be in a permanent vase installed on the stone or foundation, in saddles on the stones, placed directly next to the foundation, or on a Shepherd’s hook placed directly next to the foundation or they may be removed by the Association.

25. No stone, marker, monument, bench or other such structure shall be placed in an alleyway.

26. Glass or pottery containers, statues, toys, pieces of wire or similar bindings are NOT PERMITTED AT ANY TIME and will be removed by the Association. These tend to be dangerous and could cause injuries to the workers when they are mowing or any other said pedestrian within the Cemetery.

27. The Association reserves the right to maintain, repair, remove or replace stones, markers, or monuments at their discretion.

28. There is “No Alcohol” allowed in the cemetery. No refilled or empty containers of alcohol are allowed on the premises and the Association reserves the right to remove therefore any such container.

29. No “For Sale” signs will be allowed on lots, plots, graves, or vaults. No advertisements in any form will be allowed on any work in the Cemetery; and the Association reserves the right to remove therefore any such signs or advertisements.

30. The owner of each lot or plot shall keep the same, together with the improvements thereon, in good order at their expense.

31. The Association reserves the right to prohibit enclosures on any lots, plots, or graves and the Association reserves the right to remove any such enclosure, container and/or vase if not authorized and/or placement rules are not followed.

32. Except by written permission of the Association, no work shall be performed in the Cemetery or materials, or tools left on lots, plots, or Cemetery grounds by contractors without permission of the Association.

33. The Association shall take reasonable precaution to protect plot owners, and the property rights of plot owners, within the Cemetery, from loss or damage; but it distinctly disclaims all responsibility for loss or damage from causes beyond it’s reasonable control, and especially damage caused by the elements, an act of God, common enemy, thieves, vandals, strikers, malicious mischief makers, explosions, unavoidable accidents, invasions, insurrections, riots, or order of any military or civil authority, whether the same be direct or collateral, other than as herein provided.

34. No one may take photographs or record any video within the Cemetery at any time, for anything other than personal use. The Woodland Cemetery Association may need to do so for Cemetery business purposes and do not require permission to do so.

35. Lighting fires in or around the Cemetery is strictly prohibited. The Woodland Cemetery Association may need to do so for Cemetery business purposes and do not require permission to do so.

36. The Association prohibits the burial of pet cremated remains.

37. The Association may, from time to time, revise these Rules and Regulations and make reasonable administration and conduct of the Cemetery. You may visit our Website at https://sites.google.com/site/iowacenterwoodlandcemetary/cemetery-rules for a current listing of our Rules and Regulations or feel free to stop out at the cemetery as they are on display there.

No Digging, … No Planting

No Glass Containers … No Pottery Containers … No Statues … No Toys

No pieces of wire or similar bindings

For decorations to remain, they MUST be in a permanent vase installed on the stone or foundation, in saddles on the stones, placed directly next to the foundation or on a Shepherd’s hook placed directly next to the foundation. ALL decorations must be placed directly next to the monument or marker or they may be removed by the Association

To keep our cemetery looking beautiful for your loved ones, we request that you abide by the rules and regulations and that ALL decorations be placed so mowing can be done easily and safely.

We thank you for your help!

D. Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers:

1. All landscaping including planting of trees, plants, shrubs, or flowers will be done by the Association. The owners of lots are prohibited from planting and/or removing any trees, plants, shrubs or flowers without the permission of the Association.

2. Fresh cut flowers, potted plants, and/or artificial decorations may be used at any time and may remain until, in the judgment of the Sexton or any other Association Member judges them to be unsightly and may then be removed by the Association.

E. Decorating of Gravesites

1. April 1 – November 1: During the grass growing season, decorations and containers must be placed directly next to the monument or marker to facilitate mowing and trimming.

2. November 1 – through Easter: Decorations including artificial flowers will be removed when they become unsightly or are out of keeping with seasonal observances.

3. Cleanup dates for WOODLAND CEMETERY are set by the Board of Directors twice annually around the first two weeks of April and last two weeks of October weather permitting. Everything on the ground must be removed and any special items or floral arrangements should be removed by you prior to these dates or they will be cleared away.

4. Glass or pottery containers, toys, pieces of wire or similar bindings are NOT PERMMITTED AT ANY TIME and will be removed by the Cemetery Board! These tend to be dangerous and could cause injuries to the workers when they are mowing or any other said pedestrian within the Cemetery.

Thank you!