5.1. SR 05-10-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Su~~'ni~-1-~c~ ~' Jim I~fyS~rv-rn, Orono Cerne~-e~-y l3~arc~ r''lEn~e.r ORONO CEMETERY ASSOCIATION BACKGROUND: The Orono Cemetery is one of the oldest institutions in Elk River. It was established in the village of Orono several years before Minnesota became a state. The earliest known burial was made in 1854. In the early 1900s, several community leaders incorporated what was a burial ground into the Orono Cemetery Association. The Cemetery was incorporated as anon-sectarian, non- profit organization. A set of by-laws established burial rules and a means of providing funds for perpetual care of the grounds. CEMETERY GROUNDS: The cemetery covers about seven acres and is surrounded on three sides by Lake Orono. It is accessed from the south by Boston Street. About one half of the grounds are developed. The existing developed grounds should last at least five more years at current burial rates. After that time, a portion of the undeveloped property will have to be improved. In 1999, when the City of Elk River removed sedimentation from the bottom of Lake Orono, a portion of the excavated sand was used to re-contour the surface of the undeveloped part of the grounds. The same year the City extended a water main to the cemetery to supply water for an irrigation system. RECENT HISTORY: According to the Association's by-laws, the business of the cemetery is directed by a board of directors who are elected by (living) owners of lots. During the past ten years, the number people interested in the cemetery have diminished and there have been no longer enough participants to conduct a business meeting. The Association has valuable assets in land and endowment, but no one to administer them. The remaining Association members have been looking for an organization that can continue to perpetuate the operation of the Cemetery. PRESENT CONCERNS: The Association's members' principle concern is the long term protection of the Cemetery's assets (land and endowment). The second concern is simpler; it needs help in keeping records, and receiving, disbursing, and investing funds. Presently the Cemetery is well served by its caretaker. In the short term, day-to-day work is being successfully completed.