LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The owners of the Louisville Cemetery are facing fines from the city as families walk through thick grass and weeds to visit their loved ones' graves.
As the community steps in to give some short-term help, the question is what can be done long term.
"It is heartbreaking, to say the least," said Michael Meeks.
Meeks spends part of his summer trimming the grass around his family members' graves.
"My grand father, grandmother and two of my uncles are in the back part, which is poorly maintained," he said.
To get to some of those graves, he has to walk through thick grass and said it's frustrating that the responsibility falls on the community.
"I've been out a couple of times this summer to maintain my relatives' gravesites," Meeks said. "The responsible parties need to step up and be responsible. If they can't do it, then they need to seek help."
One of the community members doing what he can to help is a man named Jim.
"It broke my heart," he said. "(I) had to come out and help some way I can."
Jim has been trimming the grass for about a month to honor those who have passed.
"We have World War II vets in here that fought for me to be able to do what I do," he said.
A Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations spokesperson said they've handed out 14 fines to the owners since they started getting complaints and inspecting the cemetery. That includes one fine placed on the door of the office on Tuesday.
"I think the Metro Council could come up with some type of ordinance that would allow these fines to be segregated and used to maintain dilapidated cemeteries in the city," said Meeks.
Clark Cox, one of the owners, told WDRB they are in the middle of a legal process of shutting down the cemetery, which would allow money from a trust fund to be used to maintain the grounds well into the future, but personal reasons have led to a delay.
In a statement, he said "I and the Cemetery Board are deeply sorry for the pain and anguish we have caused and are seeking to rectify all past problems."
President of the Louisville Cemetery Improvement Association, Tammy Fletcher, also sent a statement to WDRB:
Until then, Meeks said he'll continue picking up the pieces.
"It takes a community, we've gotta come together and honor the loved ones who have passed on," he said.
A community cleanup is planned at the cemetery this Saturday, Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Louisville Cemetery Improvement Association will provide trash bags, water and gloves to volunteers.
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