metro »

continued from page 14

– Norm Augustinus

Cemetery in Birmingham, agrees. The
JN emailed him a photo of Augustinus
measuring the distance from the head-
stone past the fence. He replied: “A
grave today is 8-feet 1-inch long by 42
inches wide. Even without a casket it
would be at least 6-7 feet … it appears
that the fence is across the grave.”

Danny Schwartz

“A vault is 90 inches long.
After I measured, I knew the
caskets were definitely resting
under the fence.”

the city has owned this cemetery for 20
years and you could’ve done something
about it and didn’t.’ We’re still waiting
for any kind of action.”

Danny Schwartz

STONEWALLED
“There’s no story here,” said Lovelock
when contacted by a JN editor. “The
cemetery is fine the way it is.” Repeated
SEEKING RECOURSE
calls to Lovelock for follow-up ques-
On June 1, Augustinus contacted the
tions were ignored.
city of Chesterfield, owner of the cem-
Chesterfield Township Trustee
etery, to see what could
Christine Bell is the
be done to remedy the
only city official
situation. The origi-
cooperating with
nal owner of Union
Augustinus, agree-
Cemetery died 20 years
ing with him that
ago, and it was handed
gravesites extend on
over to the city of
the other side of the
Chesterfield’s care.
fence.
That marked his
In an email
first contact with
sent from Bell to
Chesterfield Township
Augustinus on July
Supervisor Mike
18, she wrote, “When
Lovelock, who came
I went to the cem-
to Union Cemetery
etery today to see for
with Don Coddington,
myself what the situ-
superintendent of the
ation is, I found their
Chesterfield Township
[Augustinus’ grand-
Rosie and Norm Augustinus
Department of Public
parents] gravesites
Works.
… It does look to me
Both Augustinus and
as though the fence
his niece were there as well. “Lovelock
crosses over several graves.”
took out a flip phone and kept saying,
Bell also admitted in the email that
‘I want a survey ordered immediately. I
she had no idea how the problem
don’t care how much it costs; I want it
originated and was unsure of how to
done tomorrow,’” Rosie said.
solve it. She said she would speak with
That was over two months ago, and
Lovelock about it to determine what
a survey has never been conducted.
his plan was to resolve the issue. She
Augustinus said he now believes
also urged Augustinus to attend a city
Lovelock was “putting on a perfor-
planning commission meeting and
mance” and not actually speaking to
plead his case.
anyone on that flip phone.
“I went to the city planning com-
Since that day, the Augustinus fam-
mission and they blew us off and said
ily’s attempts to get in touch with
they couldn’t do anything to help,”
Lovelock regarding the issue have been
Augustinus said. “I wrote to Brian
met with nothing but problems.
DeMuynck, another trustee, and he
“He’ll either hang up on you or tell
couldn’t help and just forwarded me
you a bunch of baloney,” Augustinus
to Lovelock again.”
said. “Or he’ll refer you to Cindy Berry,
DEALING WITH DISRESPECT
a city clerk. She’ll say, ‘We’ll walk you
There are about a dozen Jewish people
out to the stakes and even organize a
buried in Union Cemetery. “I feel what’s
rebuilding committee,’” he said.
going on is an attack on the Jewish
“I told her, ‘If that’s true, great. But

2119290

16 August 18 • 2016