Cemetery issue still haunting commissioners
Jennifer Brookens — Staff WriterFAIRMONT - Fallout from the German Evangelical Church cemetery continues to haunt the Martin County commissioners.
Last month, the commission ruled that the remaining headstones would stay at the site, and the site would be marked and maintained as a cemetery. Headstones removed during the confusion were to be returned.
However, the commissioners received a request Tuesday to move one of the headstones to a cemetery in Fairmont. Bill Rosenberg, the last surviving sibling of Clara Rosenberg, has requested her headstone be moved to Fairview Memorial Park cemetery where their parents are buried.
Clara Rosenberg was only 2 years old when she died of severe burns from hot wax in 1906.
Bill Rosenberg, who resides in Oregon, has authorized a nephew in Welcome to manage the transfer.
Commission chairman Steve Pierce pointed out that because ownership of the German Evangelical Church cemetery is transferred to the county, it is the county's decision, and the heirs have virtually no say in the decision.
The general consensus is that the actual grave should remained marked, and while the headstone could be transferred to Fairmont, another marker should be placed.
Councilman Gerald Boler objected to the idea of having two markers.
"This is going to set the precedence of how we handle these cases from here on out," he said. "How much confusion will this cause years from now ... There can't be two headstones."
When a conclusion was reached on how to handle the cemetery issue earlier this summer, some of the descendants had discussed having a historical marker at the Evangelical cemetery site. Whether such a sign could be used as a marker was not discussed.
The commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of allowing the family to move Clara Rosenberg's headstone, with Boler giving the sole "no" vote.
In other business, the commissioners:
o Approved constructing a new salt storage building for the Martin County Highway Department. A bid for a 60-foot by 60-foot Titan building was accepted for $78,973.56. The building will allow the Highway Department to stockpile the salt and sand instead of purchasing it as needed.
o Approved a joint powers agreement between Martin County and Iowa Lakes Regional Water to bring water to residents in Jay and Lake Fremont townships. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Martin County Courthouse.
