Oakwood Sexton Provides Update On Cemetery Trees

Leaf pickup has been completed at Oakwood Cemetery. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Oakwood Cemetery Sexton Hal Heagy provided an update regarding tree pruning/trimming work at the Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents meeting Thursday, Dec. 3.

Beaver Dam Tree Service out of Akron has completed work for the 2020 year at the cemetery. Heagy said the company performed approximately $15,000 worth of work at the cemetery during the past year. Heagy has budgeted $16,000 for tree trimming work in 2021.

Heagy addressed a concern regarding removal of trees at the cemetery. Last month, a representative from another media outlet reported receiving an anonymous letter from someone who was upset about trees potentially being taken down at the cemetery. The person who wrote the letter had noticed red pins in numerous trees at the cemetery. 

Heagy explained that the climber from Beaver Dam Tree Service had come out on a Saturday to examine the trees. The red pins were used for marking trees that needed to be trimmed, which includes the removal of dead, diseased and loose branches that prevent trees from flourishing. The company removes widow makers, which are a potential safety hazard.

“It’s not about taking (trees) down,” Heagy said. “This is about people being in danger.”

A widow maker is a detached or broken limb or tree top, which gets its name because such objects could potentially injure or kill a person by falling on them. 

Heagy explained that if a widow maker comes down, “It literally can go a foot and a half to two feet into the ground. That’ll do some damage to you.”

A walnut tree behind the office was removed, Heagy said, because it was discovered that the tree was hollow all the way through.

Heagy said he wants the community to be aware that he plants between $3,000 – $5,000 worth of new trees each year. 

Oakwood Board of Regents Vice President Max Mock inquired who would be responsible if a limb comes down during a storm and damages a headstone.

Heagy said when a tornado swept through the cemetery years ago, damaging several headstones, he was told by the insurance company that family members are responsible. Heagy said he was also informed that a family member’s homeowners insurance would cover the headstone, although he is unsure if that information is accurate.

In other news:

• Leaf season went well this year with the help of the city’s new leaf vacuum. Heagy said his staff are actually doing spring work on the grounds at this time to try to get a jump on next year.
• Bradford Creations completed two small retaining walls at the cemetery, in blocks 18 and 30. 
• The next regular meeting will be 5 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2021.