It shall be the obligation of the owner of any cemetery lot or plot upon which a monument is located to maintain and keep such monument in a good state of repair at all times. In the event a monument creates a danger to public safety or interferes with maintenance of the cemetery, the City shall:
A. Notify the owner, in writing, of the needed repair or maintenance and a date by which such repair or maintenance must be completed. Such notice shall be sent by first class mail to the last known address of the owner according to the official cemetery records maintained by the City.
B. If the requested repair or maintenance is not completed by the date specified, the City may, at its discretion, repair, reset or remove such monument. The cost for any such repair, resetting or removal shall be billed to the owner of the cemetery lot or plot.
C. The City shall store any monument removed by the City for six (6) years from the date of removal. If, during that six (6) year period, anyone establishes that they are the owner of the cemetery lot or plot from which the monument was removed, the City shall return the monument to such person upon payment of all costs of the City in connection with removing the monument.
D. If no one claims the monument during the six (6) year period, the City may publish notice of its intent to dispose of the monument after a specified date in the official newspaper of the City. If no one claims the monument and pays the City's costs in connection with removing the monument by the specified date, the City shall offer the monument to the Chippewa County Historical Society. If the Chippewa County Historical Society does not wish to receive the monument, the City may dispose of the monument as it deems appropriate.
E. Whenever the City removes a monument, the City shall provide an alternate identification on the cemetery lot or plot. The cost of such alternate identification shall be included with the City's cost of removal and billed to the owner. (Ord. 737, 3-7-1994)