These protocols and the ones following are intended to enhance the management, appearance, and safety of the cemetery grounds, and they supersede/replace all previous protocols in the form of Cemetery Regulations created from 1917-2020. *Grave Certificates are not Property Deeds and the Townships retain ownership and management responsibility of the cemetery in its entirety. These protocols are subject to change without prior notice.

Cemetery Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Prohibited: Littering, ORV’s, Alcohol, Fireworks, or Burning
Cemetery Speed Limit: 10mph; Vehicles are to stay on maintained roadways only and parked vehicles must not block cemetery traffic.

❖      Headstones: All headstones are to be placed on a cement foundation and headstones must not extend more than 1” over each end of the foundation. Only natural stone headstones and memorial plaques are permitted; wood, plastic, and composite products are not permitted. Headstones may be placed to mark a single grave, both spouses’ side by side, and families. Only one (1) headstone and up to two (2) flush mounted memorial plaques are allowed for each burial plot. Headstones must not exceed 48” in height and 46” in width. There is a nominal charge collected before a foundation and headstone is placed, so the Cemetery Sexton, located at Sims Township Hall, must be contacted prior to the placement of a foundation and headstone. Beginning in 2021, the charge is $15.00 and is subject to change annually without notice.

❖      Remembrance/Memorial Tokens on graves: No unsecured or loose containers, shells, toys, cans, bottles, balls, sporting paraphernalia, marbles, or anything of metal are not allowed on graves due to high winds within the cemetery and maintenance workers with high powered blowers. Conditions will be corrected without prior notice.

❖      Fencing, Arching, Stone/Cement Walls around graves: None are allowed and will be removed without prior notice.

❖      Trees/Shrubs: No trees, shrubs, or evergreens may be planted and will be removed without prior notice.

❖      Potted Plants/Artificial Plants: These are allowed but must be secured with a wooden or metal stake to the ground and must be removed by the last weekend of October each year.

❖      Loose Ground Covering: No decorative stones, crushed rock, gravel, wood chips, mulch, or any other loose ground covering is allowed and will be removed without prior notice.

❖      Markers: The corners of each plot are marked with numbered metal markers and must not be removed.

❖      Shepherd Hooks/Metal Apparatus: Are not allowed on grave sites due to safety hazards, and will be removed without prior notice.

❖      Bird/Livestock Feeders: Are not allowed.

❖      Animals: Only service animals are allowed in the cemetery and must be on a leash at all times. Owners are required to clean up after their pets.

❖      Benches: The only benches allowed are those that are used in place of a memorial headstone. Memorial benches must be made of a stone-type product and must not exceed the maximum width of a burial plot, which is 48” and a back height of no more than 3’.

❖      Statues/Crosses: Must not exceed 2’ in height and 6” wide. Object must be secured to the grave within 6” of the headstone. Unsecured objects will be removed without prior notice.

❖      Grave Blankets: Are allowed after November 1st and must be removed by March 31st .

❖      Grave Site Improvements: All improvements to a grave site must conform to the Cemetery Regulations herewith and require pre-approval by the Cemetery Sexton.

❖      Removal of Objects: Any item on a grave that conflicts with Cemetery Regulations, or an unreasonable size that exceeds the grave site parameters, or is a potential hazard to cemetery workers will be removed without prior notice.

❖      Damages: The Townships of Sims and Whitney will not be responsible for any items lost, stolen, or broken on or about a grave site which includes headstones, foundations, benches, artifacts, etc. Families owning gravesites are responsible to repair damage to headstones and foundations that have shifted or sunk over time.

❖      Cemetery Clean-Up: April 1st begins cemetery clean-up. Grave blankets that were not removed by March 31st will be removed along with any other unsightly materials that are scattered about. Between October 15-31, our cemetery maintenance persons will remove summer plants and decorations that were not secured. If you would like to retain any of the items, please do so prior to those dates.