from staff
City Council President Michael Corrigan has appointed nine people to the City’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Cemeteries. The Commission includes a City employee, an attorney, a local historical advocate, three from the cemetery/funeral industry and three citizens.
Formed as a result of a 2004 resolution, the Commission is responsible for studying the issues of abandoned cemeteries in Jacksonville making recommendations to the Council’s Transportation, Energy, Utilities & Safety Committee (TEUS).
According to its guidelines, the Commission will report its findings and propose any necessary legislation within six months. Once TEUS has deemed the Commission’s work is complete, the Commission shall sunset.
The following were appointed to the Commission:
• Joel McEachin — City’s Planning & Development Department
• Jerry Spinks — Historic preservationist
• Brenda Ezell — Attorney with Edwards, Cohen, Sanders, Dawson & Mangu
• Marion Graham — Licensed funeral home/mortician industry
• Richard Mueller — Licensed cemetery operator
• Hazel Mack — Licensed cemetery operator
• Jon Ferguson — Citizen at-large
• Emily Lisska – Citizen at-large
• Louise Warren — Citizen at-large