SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP

 

MT. CALVARY AND MAPLE HILL CEMETERIES

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP BOARD AT THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON JULY 13, 2004

 

AMENDEMENT TO RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP BOARD AT THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON JUNE 10, 2025

 

 

 

To owners of lots and to those who may here after purchase lots or graves in Schoolcraft Township Cemeteries consisting of Maple Hill and Mt. Calvary in Lake Linden Michigan.

 

In order to maintain a clean, tidy and visually attractive cemetery it has become necessary for the Schoolcraft Township Board and the Cemetery Committee of said township cemeteries to strictly enforce the following rules and regulations governing the cemeteries know at Maple Hill and Mt. Calvary.  The year of passage of the regulations is in parentheses. 

 

The rules and regulations apply to all lots and gravesites whether or not there is perpetual care, annual care, or no care.

 

GENERAL RULES

(2025) Bodies Stored in the Schoolcraft Township Vault shall be removed by June 1st of the current year or a $100 fee per day will be charged

 

(1990) No vehicle shall be driven on other than established drives.

 

(1990) Maintenance vehicles may be driven on any alley or path as is necessary for

            fulfilling job obligations.

 

(1990) Rubbish or debris shall be placed in receptacles provided.

 

(1990) Flowers, trees, monuments or decorations are not to be picked disturbed or                     

            mutilated.

 

(1992) Only one decoration per 2 grave lot; two decorations per 4 grave lot; and three

            decorations for any lot bigger than 4 graves.

 

(1992) Decorations are defined as flowerpots, statues and vigil lights.  All decorations

            must be placed as close as possible to the headstone.  Flower tables are not

            permitted.  Flowerbeds are not permitted and must be removed.  Flowerpots

            cannot exceed 12 inches in diameter.

 

(1992) No pets, alcoholic beverages or littering are allowed on the cemetery grounds.

 

(1990) No firearms are to be discharged on cemetery property.  This prohibition shall not

           apply to authorize volleys at burial services.

LOT OWNERSHIP

 

(1990) Description of all lots and gravesites will be in accordance with the cemetery plot

            which is kept at the township office.

 

(1990) The board reserves the right to enlarge, reduce, replot or change the boundaries or

grading of the cemeteries or a section thereof.  The board reserves to itself and to                       its employees the right of ingress and egress over lots for the purpose of maintenance or passing to and from other lots.

 

(1990) All lot sales shall be handled by the Township Treasurer in accordance with 

            current price schedule and policies.

 

(1990) The deed issued by the board and a copy of these rules and regulations shall

            constitute the agreement between the Board and the lot owner.

 

(1990) It is the responsibility of the lot owner to notify the Board of any change in

            address.

 

(1990) The Board reserves the right to purchase back lots from the owner or legal heir

            who desires to sell at the original purchase price.

 

(1990) No lot shall be sold or transferred to a third party without Board approval.

 

(1990) No lot shall be used for any purpose other than the burial of human remains or

            creamains.

 

(1987) All lots sold in the Schoolcraft Township Cemeteries after August 11, 1987 must

have perpetual care except section 5 in Maple Hill.

 

(2018) As of August 15, 2018 Schoolcraft Township will no longer offer Perpetual Care.   However, we will continue to participate in grave maintenance, lawn mowing and      general care for Mt. Calvary and Maple Hill Cemeteries.

 

DECORATIONS AND FLOWERS

 

(1986) After Memorial Day only one flower container and one other memorial such as a                              statue, vigil, light, etc. may be permitted on cemetery lots. (lot being graves)

 

(1986) No planting of any kind is allowed this includes trees, shrubbery, flowers,

            bushes and sod.

 

(1986) Only cut stone, marble, or bronze may be used as memorials, other memorials

            must be approved by the Board.

 

(1986) The cemetery is not responsible for memorials or grave decorations, whether

            damaged, lost, or removed for any reason whatsoever.

 

(1990) Flower stands used for flowerpot are expressly prohibited.

 

(1992) All memorials and decorations are to be removed by October 1st.

 

(1990) No decoration or flower arrangement will be permitted on or near footstones all 

           decorations must be placed on or as close as possible to the headstone, this

           includes all flags

 

WORK REGULATIONS

 

(1952) The Board will have charge of all surveying, plotting, sodding, planting and other

            improvements within the cemeteries.

 

(1952) To protect the grounds from injury the Township Board reserves the right to

            oversee construction of all foundations for monuments, headstones etc. and to

            have all excavating, grave digging, and sodding of lots performed by its workmen

            (Except by special permission of Board.) All rubbish accumulated by owner of

            lots their agents or employees must be carefully removed as soon as possible.

 

(1968) All work must have approval of cemetery board.

 

(1986) Foundations for all monuments and markers will be installed by cemetery

            employees only.  All accounts payable in 30 days.

 

(1990) No work of any kind is to be performed by any person who is not an employee

           of the Township the exception being a person or company contracted by the

Township.  This means no cutting of grass, trimming of grass around head and footstones and no digging of any kind.  Setting of markers and headstones by the public is prohibited.

 

(1991) Concerning footstones for Mt. Calvary and Maple Hill cemeteries.  Since it is our

            desire to set these stones at ground level we are requesting that all stones have the

            same thickness throughout this will help facilitate the setting of the stones. 

            upright footstones are permitted only in the case of matching upright footstones

            Which are already in place.

 

(1992) All new footstones must be of the type that are flush with the ground when

            installed.

 

PROHIBITIONS

 

(1990) No lot work can be done by any person not employed by Schoolcraft Township

            this includes grass cutting, trimming around headstones, fertilizing, seeding, stone

            raising, watering of grass.

 

 (1992) No planting of any kind is allowed.  This includes flowers, bushes, shrubs, trees

       and sod.

 

(1952) Steps leading to lots will not be allowed neither will hedges, trellises, posts

            chains, stones or other enclosures are permitted.

 

 (1986) No fences within the cemetery, either of wood or iron, nor curbing of brick or

             stone will hereafter be permitted.

 

(1990) No decoration or flower arrangement will be permitted on or near footstones all

      decorations must be placed on or as close as possible to the headstone, this

       includes all flags.

 

(1966) Owners shall not allow internments to be made in their lots for a renuneration,

             nor shall any transfer or assignment of any lot or of any interest therein, be valid,

             without the consent in writing of the Board or their authorized agent first.

 

(1990) No pets shall be permitted on cemetery grounds all pets must be kept in the

            vehicles they rod in.

 

BOARD RIGHTS

 

(1952) The rights of the Township Board to remove or modify any structure growth or

             improvement made on any and all lots that are deemed injurious to the

             appearance of the cemeteries.

 

(1966) If any tree or shrubs, situated on said lot, shall by means of their roots, branches,

            or otherwise, become detrimental to the adjacent lots or avenues, or unsightly

            or inconvenient to passengers it shall be the duty of the Board, and they shall have

            the right to enter the said lot, and remove the said trees and shrubs, or such part

            thereof as are detrimental, unsightly or inconvenient.

 

(1966) If any monument, effigy, or enclosure, or any structure whatever or any inscription

be placed in or upon the lot which shall be determined by the Board or a majority of them, to be offensive or improper, or injurious to the appearance of the surrounding lots or grounds, the said Board or a majority of them, shall have the right and it shall be their duty to enter upon such lot and remove the said offensive object or objects.

 

(1986) Funeral flowers will be removed by cemetery personnel when they become 

            unsightly – usually three to five days.

 

BURIALS

 

(1966) No disinterment shall be allowed without permission being obtained at the office  

            of the cemetery.

 

(1968) All internment fees to be paid by funeral directors on the day of

 internment.

 

(1985) All burials in the Schoolcraft Township Cemeteries shall have outer burial  

            containers of cement, fiberglass or steel.

 

(1969) Wooden rough boxes for burial purposes will no longer be used in Schoolcraft

            Township Cemeteries.

 

(1985) All Bodies placed in the vault must be embalmed.

 

(1986) No burials on Sundays or holidays.  However if due to religious or personal

            beliefs a burial on Sunday or holidays is required the board should be approached

            to make arrangements.  Fees will be determined on an individual basis.

 

(1986) All cremain burials must be approved by the Schoolcraft Township Board so

            proper records can be kept.

 

(1990) Due to potential of damage to the headstones and the cemetery grounds winter

            burials will be prohibited.  The weather will determine when prohibition will

            take place.

 

(1990) The vault shall be used for storage when the weather makes the cemetery grounds

            unsuitable for burial, Cemetery Board having final decision.

 

(1990) Bodies placed in the vault for over forty-eight hours shall become the  

            responsibility of the cemetery board.

 

(1990) Arrangements for vault storage shall be made prior to the day of storage.

 

(1990) Spring burial shall be done as quickly and efficiently as weather will permit.

            It shall be done at the discretion of the Cemetery Board and with the cooperation

            of the funeral directors.  A verbal notification of no less than three days will be

            given by the cemetery sexton to the funeral director.  It would be appreciated if

             the director would notify the family members who would be interested in the

             burial of the deceased.

 

(1990) Bodies in storage shall be moved by the funeral director.  The funeral directors

            shall provide for the manpower needed to put the body into storage.  They shall

            also provide for the needed manpower for the removal of said body.  The funeral

            director shall also be responsible for getting the body to the gravesite at their

            expense.

 

(1990) The cemetery crew will be available for hire to help move the bodies in storage

            prior permission shall have been obtained from the Board and a fee having been

            paid in advance.

 

(1990) When a hole has been opened for a burial and has to be re-closed due to an error

            on the part of the funeral director a penalty fee will have to be paid by them.

(1986) Any provision not covered by these rules and regulations shall be brought to the

            attention of the Schoolcraft Township Board prior to implantation.

 

(1986) These rules and regulations are designed to keep cost down and to maintain proper

            care of the cemeteries.

 

(2014) One Tradition Burial and one Cremation per grave site or Two Cremation per                   grave site will be allowed.  Any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the

            Township Board.