Newton Twp – The Newton Township Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the completion of the paving project in the Lutheran and St. Michael’s Cemeteries. The pavement replaces the former gravel driveways which many found difficult to walk on and, at times, a muddy mess in the active burial sites. Trustees contracted with Everbrite, Inc. to complete the paving for $26,600.
Mike Hall, cemetery sexton, and full-time employee Dan Smith encouraged the upgrade and worked with Everbrite to insure satisfactory completion. The new drives are double wide near the exit of the Lutheran Cemetery and in front of the chapel at St. Michael’s Cemetery to allow for visitor parking and vehicles to pass. The pavement will also increase the efficiency of plowing the drives in the winter. The township will work on smoothing the drive edges throughout the fall. In addition, the arch at St. Michael’s has been sanded and repainted to add to the beautification of the cemeteries with the completion of this project.
Funds for the recent upgrade were available thanks to the five year .5 mill cemetery levy passed by township and village residents in May 2014. The levy to date has enabled the township to fund the paving project, replace aging mowers and better maintain equipment, hire additional seasonal help to insure that the cemeteries are trimmed and beautiful throughout the summer, and to clear the deficit balance carried in the cemetery fund. Prior to passage of the levy, there were insufficient resources available for the township to properly maintain seven cemeteries.
Newton Township officials would like to thank residents for your continued support and are gratified to be able to provide this beautiful addition to Newton Township.
