Cemetery Regulations

1. The Township does not sell any land. The Township sells Burial Rights which grants the purchaser the right to use the grave-site in accordance with the Township's ordinances and rules.
2. Burial Rights are available for purchase in Prairie Home Cemetery for Richland Township residents or property owners only. The deed holder of a lot may specify that a person other than a resident may be buried in such grave-site. One family may purchase a maximum of eight (8) grave-sites. The consent of the Township Board is necessary for any additional purchase.
3. The Township Board will periodically set the cost of each Burial Right (Grave-Site). 
4. Graves will be opened and closed during normal business hours, Monday Through Friday. Saturday openings will be allowed at an additional charge. Graves are not opened on Sundays or Holidays.
5. No plantings of any kind will be done on the cemetery grounds. Plantings in containers or urns may be placed on the extended foundations of the marker. Any plantings done by other than Richland Township may be removed.
6. An owner wishing to sell previously purchased lots may only sell them to Richland Township at the same price as was paid originally by the holder of the certificate of right of burial. Repurchase of lots is subject to approval by the Township Board.
7. Foundations for memorial markers or headstones will be placed by Richland Township. All foundations will be constructed so as to have a 4" border on all sides of the marker. The foundation may be constructed with additional area on the ends of the marker, up to a width of 48" for a single gravesite, to accommodate the placement of urns or containers. The maximum width of the foundation is 24 inches. The maximum size of a monument to be placed on a single grave, therefore, is 16” x 40”. 
8. Only one upright monument or marker may be placed on any one burial site. In the case of a subsequent cremains burial, a flush marker may be placed.
9. The Township or cemetery sexton shall have the right to remove and dispose of any and all growth, emblems, displays or containers which have become unsightly, a source of litter, or a maintenance problem.
10. Surfaces other than sod are prohibited.
11. Cemetery lots or burial spaces, which remain vacant for 40 years from the date of sale, shall automatically revert to the Township upon occurrence of the following events:
    
    
    1. Notice shall be sent by the Township Clerk by First Class mail to the last known address of the last owner of record, informing him of the expiration of the 40-year period and forfeiture of burial rights to said lots. The owner shall have 60 days from the date of mailing to notify the Clerk, in writing, of his desire to retain said burial rights.
    2. No written response to said notice indicating a desire to retain the cemetery lots or burial spaces in question is received by the Township Clerk from the last owner of record of said lots or spaces or his heirs or legal representative within 60 days from the date of mailing of said notice.
       
       
12. It is the responsibility of the holder of the certificate of burial rights to notify the Township Clerk of any change of address after the date of purchase.
13. Monuments and markers are the responsibility of the lot owner. The Township may remove any marker, which falls into disrepair with 30 days written notice mailed to the last known address of the lot owner.