Article V: General Provisions

Section 1 Offices
The cemeteries business office is located at Spring Hill Cemetery, 1427 Norway Avenue, Huntington, WV 25705-1333. The telephone number is (304)696-5516, and the fax number is (304)696-5940.

The office of GHPRD is located at 210 Eleventh Street, Shop #1, Heritage Village, Huntington, WV 25701. The telephone number is (304)696-5954, and the fax number is (304)696-5588.

Section 2 Authority
Ultimate authority for all matters pertaining to cemeteries owned by GHPRD rests with the elected commissioners of the district. The overall administration of GHPRD, which includes the four cemeteries, is exercised by the Director/Secretary.

The Superintendent and such other employees whom GHPRD may designate are to enforce the rules and regulations, maintain the buildings and grounds, exercise control over all persons and activities within the cemeteries, and effectuate the day to day operation.

Section 3 Rights of Sepulcher
Every lot in Spring Hill, Highland, Guyandotte and Pat's Branch Cemeteries is held subject to the Acts of the Legislature of the state of West Virginia.

No lot, grave, crypt, or niche in any cemetery owned by the GHPRD will be used for any other purpose other than the interment of the human dead.

"Ownership" of burial space in the cemeteries does not imply ownership in the strict real estate sense of the word. Owners of lots, crypts, or niches in these cemeteries acquire an inheritable right to the property for sepulcher. Reference in these rules and regulations (or any purchase agreement or other document) to "sale", "lot owner", or "ownership" by title to the real property comprising the cemeteries will be limited to the right to use of the designated property for the placement of the remains of deceased human beings. Actual ownership of the land resides with GHPRD. These rights are subject to the terms of applicable purchase agreements, ordinances, rules and regulations of GHPRD.

The name and address of every lot owner will be on record in the cemeteries office. In the event of a change of address, the cemeteries office should be notified promptly. Upon the death of a lot owner, the heirs or devisees should file their ownership claim and pertinent information with the cemeteries office. Should the deceased owner have left the cemetery property by will to some designated person, a certified copy of the probated will must be submitted as proof of claim in order that a transfer of ownership may be made. The cemeteries= permanent record will be sufficient warrant to the Cemetery Authority in all matters pertaining to the ownership of cemetery property. (Refer also to Legal Descent of Burial Rights - Article X)

Section 4 Conduct with respect to funerals
Employees of the cemeteries, as well as employees of outside contractors who may be working in the cemeteries should stop work and stand respectfully if a funeral procession should pass near them. Likewise, if in the immediate vicinity of a funeral, employees must stop work during the committal service and withdraw to a respectful distance.

No traffic of any kind should be permitted to pass the section where committal services are being held.

Section 5 Conduct within the cemeteries
Visitors and lot owners are reminded that the cemeteries are sacredly devoted to the interment of the dead and that strict observance of the proprieties due such a place is required, whether or not they are specifically embraced in this ordinance.

A. Gates of Spring Hill and Highland Cemeteries will open at 8:00 a.m. and be closed approximately at sundown. Entrance to Pat=s Branch Cemetery is by appointment. Guyandotte Cemetery is open to the public daily.

B. All persons must enter and leave the cemeteries by the entrances only. Climbing of walls and fences is prohibited.

C. Cemetery roads are not to be used for a shortcut from one part of the city to another, nor for the detour of traffic.

D. Loitering on cemetery grounds is prohibited.

E. Riders of motorcycles and bicycles must keep their vehicles on the roadways and obey speed limits. (See H.)

F. Except for law enforcement officers and special ceremonies, horses are not permitted in the cemeteries.

G. Heavy loads will not be permitted to enter the cemeteries except for pre-approved business pertaining to the cemeteries.

H. The speed limit within the cemeteries is 20 mph. Driving on the grass, except by authorized vehicles is prohibited.

I. Intoxicating beverages and any other controlled substances are prohibited within the cemetery grounds.

J. Littering is prohibited. Persons bringing refreshments into the cemeteries must remove their trash from the grounds.

K. Firearms are prohibited in the cemeteries except for honor guards at military funerals, special ceremonies, police officers and security guards.

L. All pets brought into the cemeteries must be on leashes and under the close control of their owner/guardian who shall be responsible for cleanup of all droppings.

M. No Tips or gratuities, monetary or otherwise, are to be paid to an employee of the cemeteries as a reward for any personal service, attention, or favor; nor is any employee to receive any pay, directly or indirectly, in connection with work in the cemeteries other than wages from GHPRD.

N. Advertising of any kind is prohibited within the cemeteries.

O. Soliciting by outside parties for the sale of decorations, plants, or any other commodity within the bounds of the cemeteries is prohibited.

P. Coarse and/or demeaning language will not be tolerated in the cemeteries.

Q. Vandalism is prohibited. Writing upon, defacing, or injuring walls, monuments, buildings, or any other property within the cemetery property or belonging to the cemeteries is prohibited. Damaging, cutting, or removing trees, decorations, grass or other plants is prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

R. Decorations may be placed on graves, crypts or niches. Persons doing so must comply with grave decorating policies as outlined elsewhere in these rules. Baskets, vases, decorations, etc. may not be removed without permission of the Cemetery

Section 6 Reserved Rights
GHPRD reserves the right, without changing the locations of places of burial previously sold: to re-plot all or any part of the cemeteries, to install, alter, relocate, close any roadway or walkway, to lay and maintain pipelines, sanitary or storm sewers, gutters, and sprinkling systems; to enlarge, reduce, or change the boundaries of the cemeteries, ranges, sections, lots, or spaces.

GHPRD reserves to itself and to those lawfully entitled thereto, the perpetual right of ingress or egress over lots for the purpose of passing to and from other lots.

GHPRD reserves the right to change the rules and regulations at anytime to improve the cemeteries services and conditions.

Section 7 Work Done in the Cemeteries
All work in the cemeteries must be done in the most substantial manner, employing first-class materials and workmanship. Contractors must, upon request, furnish such assurances regarding experience, insurance, workers= compensation, hold harmless agreements, etc... as may be deemed necessary by GHPRD.

Any outside contractor repeatedly performing substandard work or failing to comply with cemetery regulations may be excluded form working within the cemeteries.

Outside contractors must request permission to work in the cemeteries at least one work day ahead of time.

Approval from GHPRD must be obtained prior to any materials or equipment being brought into the cemeteries or commencement of any work within the cemeteries.

No contract work will be allowed within the cemeteries after 4:00 p.m. weekdays, Saturday, Sunday, or holidays. Exceptions by written permission only.

Persons engaged in erecting monuments or performing other work in the cemeteries are not to attach ropes to trees, shrubs, fencing, etc. They must not scatter material or debris over adjoining lots or leave same on the grounds longer than is absolutely necessary. Guy posts may be set only in non-plotted areas.

Section 8 Financial Matters
Persons desiring to purchase burial rights or merchandise in the cemeteries should call the Cemeteries= office at Spring Hill Cemetery. All financial matters are conducted by the Cemeteries office. Deeds are executed from the Cemeteries office, but must be signed by the President of GHPRD before being issued to the purchaser.

Burial rights and merchandise may be purchased on a cash basis, an account with regular monthly payments over time, or credit card. To purchase on account, a down payment is required with the balance to be paid in monthly increments as required by the Cemetery.

Burial rights and possession of merchandise will not pass to the purchaser until the entire note or contract has been paid in full. Failure to fulfill the sales contract will result in forfeiture of purchasers= rights and equity in burial rights and merchandise and payments made theretofore will accrue to the Cemetery.

No burials will be made or memorials placed on any lot which has not been paid for in full.

Deeds to burial rights and merchandise are normally issued at no charge when the purchase has been made directly from the Cemetery; however, an administrative charge will be made when a deed is transferred.