PEPPER PIKE, Ohio — The mayor of Pepper Pike confirmed Friday that the city’s two historic cemeteries are now closed to any new burials.
According to Mayor Richard Bain, one of the city-owned cemeteries had not been used for burials for many years, while the other continued to be available to residents until recently.
“There are many unmarked gravesites in the cemetery, and we were concerned that we really did not have a clear handle as to what may or may not be already occupied ground in the cemetery,” Bain said, noting that because of the cemetery’s age, records were not available for certain areas.
The mayor said the city “engaged a company that had sonar equipment to examine the land” and discovered that the cemetery appeared to be fully occupied. City council members made the decision to close the cemetery for further sale of any available plots.
According to Bain, about 40 people had reserved plots at a cost of $250. Bain said the city was not sure it had contact information for all of them, since some of the reservations were made a long time ago, and that some people may have already died and been buried elsewhere.
For the remaining people with a reserved plot, Bain said the city would make a plot available to them if they wished to be cremated.
However, for people who do not want to be cremated, Bain said the city will return their $250 reservation with an additional $100 as “a premium for their inconvenience.”
Anyone who has reserved a plot and wants a refund may call Pepper Pike City Hall at (216) 831-8500.
