There are more than 3500 cemeteries across Ohio, that’ll undoubtedly see thousands of visitors in the next few days.
Anne Petit is Superintendent of the state Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing. She says the governor-appointed Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission - which her agency oversees - receives roughly 30 to 40 complaints each year.
“Weeds are unruly, or there’s just a general unkempt appearance to a particular grave site or an area in the cemetery," she explains. "Or perhaps sometimes the condition of the roadways, the pathways, inside the cemetery itself. Perhaps significant potholes and deterioration, so folks lose hubcaps, tires, or other things.”
Petit says most cemetery and mausoleum caretakers are vigilant and caring, but if a complaint should go unresolved, then a mediation process will take place between the complainant and caretaker during one of the commission’s quarterly meetings.
Petit says her division offers a consumer brochure online with information on how to file a complaint and what happens after. She says instances of vandalism or theft need to be reported to local police.