WARSAW — At the Oakwood Cemetery board meeting Thursday, July 6, Sexton Hal Heagy provided copies of the 2018 proposed budget report. Items listed on the budget report include salaries, employee benefits, office supplies, insurance, utility services, rentals and repair and maintenance of equipment. The proposed budget for 2018, which has an increase of only 1 percent over the 2017 budget, was approved by board members.

Heagy said a new time clock system is being considered, which is where part of the budget increase comes from.

Cemetery Board President Dave Baumgartner said, “With everything involved, an increase of only 1 percent is quite remarkable.”

Heagy also provided copies of the June 2017 statistics report.

According to Heagy, the cemetery is in phase 2 regarding road work projects in the cemetery. An emulsion coating will be applied to the roads currently being worked on. Phase 1 involved sealing the roads that are in good condition. The second phase consists of working on roads that are in poor condition. The third phase will consist of resurfacing some of the older roads.

Heagy stated he would like to give an “attaboy” to his four summer employees, a school teacher and three teens.

“I would love to have them back,” Heagy stated, “It’s hard work. They don’t argue. They don’t complain. They get the job done. It’s been a real blessing this year.”

Three bids were received for columbaria for the #2 cremation garden area. DeGraff Memorials, Warsaw, was chosen, with a bid  of $44,500 for four columbaria.

Other news:

• The next regular meeting will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3.
• June meeting minutes were approved.