Governor signs bill to deal with unused cemetery space

SANDUSKY — Gov. John Kasich signed a new law by Rep. Steve Ardnt, R-Port Clinton, making it easier for Ohio townships to deal with long-unused cemetery lots.The bill should make it easier for Ohioans to buy a cemetery lot near the final resting place of their loved ones, and also will aid townships dealing with unused space in cemeteries, said Arndt and state Rep. John Patterson, D-Jefferson, the two main authors of the bill.Under existing law, townships had the right to take possession of unused cemetery lots sold after 1986, but not lots sold before then. This had the effect of leaving many townships unable to take back and resell cemetery lots that had been vacant and unused for decades.Patterson, a retired history teacher, learned about the problem when a constituent told him he wanted to buy a cemetery lot near the burial location of his relatives. The township told him it couldn't sell him a lot, even though it had vacant space, Arndt said.Patterson needed a co-sponsor because he's a Democrat in the Republican-dominated House, and Arndt, a longtime county commissioner in Ottawa County who remains interested in local government issues, agreed to help.Under HB 454, the measure Kasich recently signed, a cemetery lot sold before 1986 can be reclaimed by a township if it's still vacant. The township first has to provide notice to the owner, giving him or her 180 days to object.If the owner still wants the lot, the township has to let him keep it, give the owner another lot or provide compensation."I was proud to vote in support of this legislation," Arndt said. "House Bill 454 would allow townships to better utilize open space in the cemetery lots and assist more Ohioans in obtaining burial plots beside their loved ones."Arndt said it's very common for townships in Ohio to operate local cemeteries.In fact, many private cemeteries, particularly old ones, wind up being acquired by townships so that the cemeteries can continue to be properly maintained, Arndt said.The sun shines at Perkins Township Cemetery on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018.