LANSING – State Representative Kate Ebli (D-Monroe) today introduced legislation requiring municipalities to reject any plan that would isolate cemeteries, creating troublesome situations such as the one at Potter Cemetery in Monroe County.
"It is simply wrong for people to be denied access to their loved ones' final resting places," Ebli said. "Whether they have lost someone recently or want to tend to the grave of a distant ancestor, residents' right to visit a public cemetery must be respected."
Ebli's legislation, which has bipartisan support, prohibits landlocking a cemetery during the planning process. Ebli introduced the bill to ensure that cemeteries cannot be isolated like Potter Cemetery in Ash Township, where more than 80 individuals – including six Civil War veterans – are buried. Because the cemetery is completely surrounded by private property, descendants and the public are not allowed to visit the burial plots or keep this historical site maintained.
Ebli's plan would keep this from happening in the future.
"I don't want to see another situation where the public loses the ability to enter a cemetery because of poor planning," Ebli said. "Many of our cemeteries are important parts of our history. In addition, the grave sites of our descendants and war veterans deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. This plan ensures that the people who work so hard to maintain our cemeteries have the access necessary to do so."