- A permit application is required to be submitted for all monuments or memorialization prior to installation, alteration, resetting or removal. Application must be submitted to the cemetery sexton at Baker City Hall. Work must not commence until application is approved and location is marked. A permit fee of $50.00 is required for all new installations (Baker City Resolution No. 3642, effective July 1, 2010).
- Monuments must be constructed of bronze, granite, or marble, unless alternate material is approved by the sexton.
- Monuments or memorialization must be in good taste and not considered offensive.
- Clarification and interpretation of this policy is at the discretion of the cemetery sexton.
- The City of Baker City is not responsible for any errors on monuments or memorialization.
- The City of Baker City assumes no liability for warranty of monuments and their installation. Warranty/liability shall be the responsibility of the installing company except in case of damage that occurs during cemetery maintenance procedures. Maintenance and/or repair of the monuments after the warranty period will be the responsibility of the purchaser, or surviving next of kin.
- All monuments being installed will be set in a minimum thickness of 5.5" of concrete. Upright and pillow monuments will have a minimum 6" concrete border on all sides of the stone. Flat stones will have a minimum 4" concrete border on all sides.
- In no case shall a single monument extend lengthwise beyond the boundaries of the grave on which it is being placed. Likewise no monument being placed on multiple graves shall extend lengthwise beyond the boundaries of the combined graves.
- To ensure the consistent application of the following specifications, all measurements are described as follows:
- Length shall mean the measurement of the monument as it would face the plot measured from left to right.
- Width shall mean the measurement of the monument as it would face the plot measured from the head of the plot towards the foot.
- Height shall mean the measurement of the monument from the concrete foundation to the highest portion of the top of the monument. This measurement shall include all bases placed to elevate the monument.
1. Flat Monuments
A flat monument shall mean a monument of granite, marble, bronze, or approved material, installed so that the face of the monument is aligned with the surrounding level of the ground. The concrete foundation installed as a border for the monument shall have a minimum of 4" surrounding on all sides. Flat monuments are allowed in all areas of the cemetery. A monument with rise exceeding ¾" above the foundation is not considered a flat monument.
Additional flat monuments may be installed in all sections, except for the Veterans section, to identify the interment of cremated remains provided they conform to the criteria above.
2. Pillow Monuments
A pillow monument shall mean a flat, sloped section of granite, or marble, set so that the highest portion of the top of the pillow shall not be more than 8" measured vertically from the concrete foundation. All pillow monuments must be set on a concrete foundation that projects 8" minimum from the pillow on all sides. The foundation shall be set level with the surrounding ground. Pillow monuments are allowed only in areas that do not have upright stone restrictions.
Additional pillow monuments may not be installed in upright sections to identify the interment of cremated remains.
3. Upright Monuments
An upright monument shall mean a section of granite, marble, or approved material set so that the highest portion of the monument shall be not more that 48" measured vertically from the concrete foundation. The monument shall be set on a concrete foundation with a minimum 6" border extending from all sides of the monument. The foundation shall be set level with the surrounding ground. Upright monuments are allowed only in areas that do not have upright stone restrictions.
Additional upright monuments may not be installed on plots in upright sections to identify the interment of cremated remains.
Vases
- Only two permanent vases are allowed per monument.
- Vases shall be constructed of metal. Vases shall be of a permanent finish that will not wear, chip, or deteriorate under normal cemetery conditions.
- Vases shall be placed so that there is a concrete border at least 3" from the edge of the foundation, extended vertically. The edge of the vase retaining ring shall be a minimum of 2" from the edge of the foundation.
- Vases in the upright restricted areas of the cemetery must be such that they can be recessed flush with the surface of the monument when not in use.
- Add on vases set in concrete may be allowed upon approval of the cemetery sexton.
- The City of Baker City assumes no liability for warranty of vases and their installation. Warranty/liability shall be the responsibility of the installing company except in case of damage that occurs during cemetery maintenance procedures.
- Installation of other items with the monument (plant hangers, shepherd's hooks, etc., to be installed permanently in the concrete foundation) shall be subject to the approval of the cemetery sexton. Such requests should be included with the permit application.
Installation Procedure
- Installing company submits permit application to cemetery sexton.
- Every effort will be made to process application within 48 hours. If there will be a delay, the sexton, or designee will contact the applicant. If there are issues that must be resolved with the placement of the monument, the permit will not be approved until such issues are resolved.
- After approval of permit application and payment of fee, the cemetery sexton, or designee will mark the installation location.
- Care must be taken by the installer not to damage or rut the turf. Installation may be delayed if the grounds are saturated due to weather or irrigation operations.
- Installer will excavate the installation location no larger than necessary to facilitate the installation.
- Installer will compact the surface upon which the monument foundation will be resting to ensure that the monument will not settle. The excavated and compacted surface must be level so that the monument will not move, or rock, after installation.
- Excavated and compacted depth of the installation location shall be such that the top of the foundation of the monument is aligned with the surrounding level of the ground.
- The area between the installed monument and the existing ground shall be filled and compacted if necessary after installation.
If, upon inspection, it is determined by the cemetery sexton, or designee, that the monument was not installed according to the specifications listed herein, the installer shall take the appropriate action in a prompt manner to correct the installation at their expense.
Any installer found not in compliance with this policy may be denied future monument placement at Mt. Hope Cemetery.