Rules And Regulations

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association

Rules, Regulations, Policies and Procedures

The Board of Directors, Battle Creek Memorial Park Association, have endeavored to place only those restrictions necessary to secure peace and good order within the cemetery, to protect the interests of all property owners and to preserve the overall beauty and appearance of the grounds.

All persons and property within the boundaries of Battle Creek Memorial Park are subject to and bound by, all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures now in effect or hereafter adopted. The Board of Directors reserves the right to change or amend these rules, regulations, policies, and procedures at any time without advance notification.

All the Laws, Statutes and Regulations of the State of Michigan applicable to cemetery operations and management are incorporated by reference as though set forth at length herein including matters pertaining to rights of property owners, perpetual care funds, police powers of the cemetery authority, the keeping of records, selling and installing memorials, duties and obligations of relatives of deceased persons, interments, entombments, inurnments, dis-interments, dis-entombments and dis-inurnments.

If any rule, regulation, policy or procedure is adjudicated to be contrary to law, only that item so adjudicated shall be void and no other part of the rules, regulations policies and procedures shall be changed.

Perpetual Care

The future care and maintenance of the entire cemetery are assured by the Association’s fully funded perpetual care trusts. A portion of every interment, entombment and inurnment right sale is deposited to the perpetual care trusts. Memorial Park has three sources of income. First, there is the income derived from the sale of lots, crypts, niches and memorials. Second, there are the fees charged for interment, entombments, inurnments and other cemetery services. Finally, there is the interest and dividends earned by the perpetual care trusts. As the cemetery ages and the sale of property and service fees decline, the income of the perpetual care trusts will provide for the continued care of the buildings and grounds.

The perpetual care trusts are professionally administered by the trust department of a commercial bank. A board of trustees, comprised of local Kiwanians and bank representatives, oversees the prudent investment and care of these funds in accordance with all applicable regulation. Memorial Park will always be self-sufficient and never dependent on funding from local, state or federal government.

Hours of Operation

Memorial Park is open for visitation from 8:00 am until dusk every day of the year. The administration office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, major holidays excluded. Evening and weekend appointments are available for property selection and memorial sales.

The Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel is open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, including the following holidays: Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the Memorial Day Weekend. Special visitation hours can be arranged in advance at the administrative office.

Interment, entombments, and inurnments may be scheduled Monday through Friday, for arrival between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm, excluding major holidays, at the regular stated fee. Later afternoon, weekend and holiday services are available at a premium stated fee. Sunday and holiday services will require additional advance notice and the approval of the General Manager. Committal services will not be scheduled to occur after sundown.

Inclement weather conditions or activities outside the Park may necessitate modification to these hours. Battle Creek Memorial Park Association reserves the right to alter these hours without advance notice.

Cemetery Records

The record keeping at Battle Creek Memorial Park Association is in accordance with the most up to date practices of cemetery management. The specific location of all interment/ entombment/ inurnment rights is designated with a formal system of platted maps and building plans. Records of the ownership, the locations of interment/ entombment/ inurnment rights, as well as the locations of the resting places of specific individuals, are maintained in a safe environment, well protected from hazard. Access to the information contained in these records is available to the public during business hours.

Conduct in the Park

All visitors are to conduct themselves in an orderly and respectful manner. Loud or boisterous behavior, loitering, unauthorized assemblages, peddling or soliciting are all forbidden. Children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult who will be responsible for their conduct. The Park is not to be used for skating, skateboards, games of football, baseball, soccer or other similar activities. Monuments are not to be climbed upon. The lake and fountains are not for swimming or wading. The Park is not to be used for parking or as an observation area for special events associated with the airport or other neighboring businesses.

The Memorial Park grounds are private property and the Association reserves the right to require persons to leave or refuse admission to persons who act in a disorderly or disrespectful manner.

Pets are to be kept inside your vehicle when visiting the cemetery. The Park grounds are not to be used for the walking of dogs.

All funeral processions and outside contractors shall be under the direction of the Association General Manager or designated agent, upon arrival. All vehicles are to proceed at a moderate rate of speed. All vehicles are to be brought to a full stop when encountering a funeral procession. Funeral processions are not to be passed or driven through once parked. When parking, please pull to the side of the pavement but not on to the grass.

The utility building and immediate area are limited to authorized personnel. All inquiries are to be directed to the staff at the administration building.

The trash baskets located throughout the Park are intended for cemetery related trash. Please do not deposit household waste.

Employees of Battle Creek Memorial Park Association are not permitted to accept gratuities.

The grounds of Battle Creek Memorial Park Association are dedicated to the interment, entombment or inurnment of the dead. The Laws of the State of Michigan serve to protect and preserve cemeteries such as Memorial Park. Damage to any plant, tree, shrub, decoration, monument, marker, building or structure will subject the offender to the full penalties of these laws.

General Care and Maintenance of the Park

All maintenance and improvements within the Park are under the control and supervision of the General Manager or designated agent. This applies to all property both before and after interments/entombments/inurnments have been made.

General care includes the maintenance of the Park grounds. This includes the planting, mowing, and trimming of grass, the planting and pruning of trees and bushes, the maintenance of all features, the maintenance of all roadways. General care includes the maintenance of the administration and utility buildings, the chapel and mausoleum buildings, personal mausoleums and columbarium’s, fences, signage, and gates. General care does not extend to monuments, markers, urns, vases, decorations or any other personal property left on cemetery grounds or in cemetery structures.

The maintenance of cemetery grounds or structures by anyone other than cemetery personnel or authorized contractors is not permissible. Any repairs necessitated by such non-permissible maintenance will be done at the expense of the property owner.

Property owners must keep in good repair any structure or object which is placed on a cemetery lot or next to any crypt or niche by their authority. Failure to do so will compel the Association to have the offending structure or object removed or repaired at the expense of the property owner.

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association reserves the right to remove or prevent the placement of any structure or object it shall deem inappropriate or injurious to the appearance of adjoining property or the Parkas a whole.

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association will not be responsible for any loss as a result of a war, an act of God, public insurrection or vandalism.

Gardens Lots and Interment Spaces

The grounds at Memorial Park are subdivided into gardens and islands. The gardens are further divided into interment spaces, monument spaces, walkways, and feature areas. Not all gardens have monument spaces and/or feature areas. Interment spaces and monument spaces are usually grouped into lots. The most common lot arrangement includes 6 interment spaces which include 3 traditional burial spaces in front and 3 traditional burial spaces in back, with a monument space in the center. There are lots with as few as 4 interment spaces and as many as 33 spaces.

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association reserves the right to replat unsold interment spaces, monument spaces, walkways, roadways, and feature locations.

Lots of 12 or more interment spaces may be subdivided into two lots for monument purposes. Resulting monument spaces must be at least 3 interment spaces wide. No subdivision for monument space purposes is to be for less than half of the total spaces on the lot and/or result in a remaining monument space less than 3 interment spaces wide. Interment spaces may be purchased individually or in groups in most gardens in the Park. Monument spaces are available to owners of half lots or more, subject to availability.

Individual interment spaces are at least 40″ W x 96″ L. Monument spaces are at least 120″ W x 48″ D. The orientation of all lots and the head and foot of all interment spaces has been established. Generally, the front of all lots will border an adjacent road, walkway or lake. The head of all interment spaces will be the end away from the monument space. All memorial installations will be consistent with the lot’s orientation.

Interment spaces may be subdivided into a front half and a rear half for the interment of infants and/or cremated remains. Monument spaces may be subdivided into a monument space one and monument space two for the interment of infants and/or cremated remains.

Mausoleum Crypts

Memorial Park has a mausoleum area designated as Carillon Garden. There are five mausoleum buildings. Mausoleum crypts are usually sold in pairs but singles and splits are also available from time to time.

Companion or side-by-side crypts are 31 inches wide, 26inches tall and 90 inches long. Tandem crypts are 31″ W x 26″ H x 180″ L. Single crypts are 31″ W x 26″ H x 90″ L.

Mausoleum crypts may not be subdivided.

The areas designated as islands on the Park grounds are available for the erection of private mausoleums. Such structures are to be furnished by the Association. Private mausoleums are to be constructed of granite and designed to meet current industry standards.

Columbarium Niches

Memorial Park has columbarium niches located in the Garden of the Cross. Columbarium niches are also located inside the Memorial Park Chapel. The niches located in the Garden of the Cross are all singles. The niches inside the Chapel and designated as north and south columbarium can be used as singles or doubles. The granite-faced bronze niches inside the Chapel are all singles. The glass-faced bronze niches inside the Chapel are all doubles.

Single niches, including the north and south Chapel niches, are 10″ square. Variations may occur. There are no restrictions for the cremains containers used in single niches other than that of size. The glass front bronze niches include the bronze urn/s contained in those niches. The urns in the bronze glass front niches may not be exchanged. Columbarium niches may not be subdivided.

Pricing Purchase and Ownership

The pricing of all cemetery property is set by the Association’s Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the General Manager. The pricing of interment spaces varies by the garden. Mausoleum crypt and columbarium niche varies by building/unit and level.

Cemetery property may be paid for at the time of purchase or may be paid for in installments. Cemetery property must be paid in full before any interment/entombment/inurnment. Cemetery property must be paid in full before the installation of any memorial or the lettering of any crypt or niche. Groupings of interment spaces and the associated monument space must be paid in full before the installation of a monument.

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association will provide an interment space in the Little Angel Rest Garden at no cost for the interment of infants through 12 months of age. The appropriate interment fee will apply.

When cemetery property is paid in full, a Certificate of Interment/Entombment/Inurnment Rights will be issued by the Association. Such certificates are the purchaser’s evidence of ownership.

Cemetery property may be sold or transferred by the owners of record. The Association reserves the right to approve such transfers of ownership. Such transfers will require a Certificate and Transfer Agreement prepared by the Association, return of the existing evidence of ownership and the payment of a fee.

The appropriate laws and statutes of the State of Michigan will apply upon the death of the owner/s of cemetery property. Documentation of current ownership will be required for all sales, transfers or authorizations of interment/entombment/inurnment rights. Such documentation is the responsibility of the owner. The absence of appropriate documentation will prevent the sale, transfer or authorization of interment/entombment/inurnment rights. Memorial Park will make no assumptions as to the intent of the original owner.

The use of any portion of an interment or monument space will prevent a subsequent transfer of ownership. Use includes both interments and/or the installation of a memorial.

All cemetery property is exempt from taxation and liability for debt. No mortgage or other encumbrance may be placed upon it.

Joint or multiple ownership of cemetery property is not recommended, but where such ownership is deemed necessary, it is advisable that an agreement is made between the owners as to the use of each individual space. Such an agreement should be recorded at the office of Battle Creek Memorial Park Association. Without such record, the Association will not permit any use without the approval of all owners.

In the case of non-payment of the full price of any cemetery property, the Association will decline to issue the Certificate of Interment/Entombment/Inurnment Rights. Any and all amounts paid on an account will be forfeited to the Association. In the event an interment/entombment/inurnment has already taken place, the Association reserves the right to remove the remains and inter them in a single interment section.

Interments, Entombments, Inurnments and Committal Services

Interments, entombments, and inurnments shall be restricted to the owners of those specific rights. An authorization designating a specific space must be signed by the owner/s and filed with the Association’s office in the event of multiple rights. If a person other than the owner of the right is to be interred/entombed/inurned, an authorization designating a specific space must be signed by the owner/s and filed with the Association’s office.

Selection of a specific space and the filing of a properly executed authorization is the responsibility of the owner/s. Authorizations must be received at least 24 hours in advance of the committal service, during normal office hours. Confusion resulting from authorizations received after the24 hour requirement will be the responsibility of the owner.

All committal services are under the control of the Association General Manager or authorized agent while on the cemetery grounds.

All interments/entombments/inurnments will require the appropriate permit specified by the laws and statutes of the State of Michigan. Battle Creek Memorial Park Association assumes no liability for the identification of the deceased. Identification contained on the permit or certificate of cremation will be used to establish identity.

All committal services are to be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by contacting the Association office during normal working hours. A specific time, location, appropriate authorization and a decision as to the tent/chapel option are required before a service is scheduled. All scheduling is done on a first come first serve basis. Traditional interment and entombment services may be given preference over cremation committals previously scheduled for holiday weekends and weekdays prior to or following holidays. Inclement weather may necessitate addition notice time.

All interment/entombment/inurnment work will be performed by employees of Battle Creek Memorial Park Association or contractors authorized by the Association’s Board of Directors.

Committal fees are set by the Association’s Board of Directors. Copies the Association’s fee schedule is available at the Association office or online at the Association’s website. Committal fees are due at the time of service. The General Manager may approve other methods of payment. Such requests must be made well in advance of the service.

Committal services may be scheduled for arrival between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, holidays excluded, at the standard fee. Late afternoon arrivals, weekend and holiday services may be scheduled at a premium fee. Sunday and holiday service will require the advance approval of the General Manager or designated agent.

Only the interment/entombment/inurnment of human beings will be permitted at Memorial Park.

The interment/entombment/inurnment of more than one person’s remains in one space will not be permitted. Memorial Park will permit the combination of a mother and infant child who are interred/entombed/inurned at the same time.

Cremated remains are not to be scattered on the grounds of Memorial Park. Cremains are not to be combined with the interment/entombment/inurnment of another. Except that cremated remains may be interred as a front half and rear half interment in a single interment space and cremated remains may be inurned together in columbarium niches that are designated and sold as companion units. The only container requirement for cremated remains is that it will fit into the interment space, crypt or niche.

Cremated remains may be entombed in a mausoleum crypt.

Each body interred or entombed must be contained in a casket. All caskets interred must also be enclosed in an outer burial container or vault. All vaults must be constructed of concrete or steel. Other suitable materials would require the advance approval of the General Manager or authorized agent. Damaged vaults will not be accepted. Vaults exceeding 40inches in width will require the use of more than one interment space. The combination casket/vaults, 40 inches or less in length will be accepted for the interment of an infant. Infant vaults, of any material, in excess of 40inches in length, will require the use of a full standard interment space. Caskets for entombments must be less than 31 inches in width, 26 inches in height and 90 inches in length.

The opening of an interment space, mausoleum crypt or columbarium niche for the purpose of inspection will require an appropriate court order or governmental action. Dis-interments/dis-entombments/dis-inurnments and re-interments/re-entombments/re-inurnments may be arranged at Memorial Park. All such services will be performed by Memorial Park personnel or an approved contractor. There are stated fees for these services. These services will require the written approval of the next of kin as well as any permits required by the County Health Department. The supervision of a licensed funeral director may also be required.

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association reserves the right to change an interment/entombment/inurnment location in the event of error without liability. Such a change will require the approval of the General Manager or authorized agent.

Monuments, Markers, Crypts and Niches

A monument is defined as an upright granite memorial. A marker is defined as a granite or bronze memorial installed flush with the ground.

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association shall provide monuments and markers for placement in Memorial Park. Monuments and markers provided by dealers other than the Association shall be acceptable as long as they comply with Association requirements. These requirements shall be available to anyone. Memorial Park may refuse to accept monuments and markers from any dealer it may consider disreputable or incompetent. Data that the Association may keep involving specific memorials are to be considered proprietary. Dealers wishing to match materials and design or determine required lettering will need to make their own investigation.

Monuments will only be erected on designated monument spaces. Monuments will be centered on the monument space unless centered on a pairing of contiguous monument spaces. Only one monument will be installed on a monument space or pairing of monument spaces. Monument spaces may be subdivided in two if both resulting spaces are at least ten feet in length. Battle Creek Memorial Park Association reserves the right to determine the proper placement and orientation of all monuments.

Monument spaces are found in all gardens with the exception of Little Angel Rest, Lakeside Garden, Friendship Garden, Garden of the Cross, Fountain Garden and Sunset Peaceful Rest Garden. Monument spaces are only available to buyers purchasing half or more of the lot grouping. The availability of any monument space is subject to prior sale.

A marker may be placed on any interment space within the Park. Markers are to be placed at the head of the interment space. In the event, the interment space is subdivided into a front half and a rear half the second marker will be placed at the midpoint of the interment space. A marker may be placed at either end of a monument space in the event monument space one and/or monument space two is used. All markers are to face the front of the lot. Battle Creek Memorial Park Association reserves the right to determine the proper placement and orientation of all markers.

The appropriate Certificate of Interments Rights must be issued before any monument or marker is installed.

All monuments are to be constructed of granite. Marble, limestone, sandstone, soapstone and southern grey granite are not permitted. All monuments are to sit on a granite protective base. These bases are to be at least 48-inches long, 14-inches wide and 8-inches thick. Bases must include an unfinished unlettered protective band of not less than 4-inches in height from the ground level. The die portion of all monuments must be at least 22″ H x 36″ L x 8″ D. The overall height of any monument and base must not exceed 60″ H. The overall length of any monument and base must not exceed the length of the monument space.

All markers are to be constructed of granite or bronze. Marble, limestone, sandstone, soapstone and southern grey granite are not permitted. The 24″ L x 12″ W granite markers provided by the Veterans Administration shall be acceptable for use on standard interment spaces. All bronze markers are to be attached to a 4″ D concrete or granite base. Single granite markers for use on standard interment spaces are to be 24″ L x 12″ W x 4″ D. Single markers for use on infant spaces or monument spaces are to be 20″ L x 10″ W x 4″ D. Double markers for use on two contiguous side-by-side interment spaces are to be 44″ W x 14″ L x 4″ D. When a standard interment space is divided, separate 24″ L x 12″ W markers shall be used for each interment.

The lettering and design on any monument or marker are to be in good taste. The General Manager may refuse the installation of any monument or marker he or she may deem to be inappropriate or offensive. The names and dates on all monuments and granite markers are to be cut at least 3/16″ into the face of the granite. All paints, stains, lithochromatic or other colorings are prohibited. The legal name of the deceased must be included on all markers or marker/monument combination. A family name must appear on both the front and back of all monuments. The lettering of any monument or marker must correspond to the actual location of the interment or false burial. It shall be the responsibility of all monument and marker suppliers to determine the correct arrangement of given names. A false burial will require the designation of a specific interment space.

Emblems, plaques, cameos and the like are permitted as long as they are permanently affixed to the die portion of a monument. These emblems, plaques, cameos and the like must be made of a material suitable for memorial use. Such attachments are not permitted on markers.

All markers are to be installed flush with the ground. All monuments are to be placed on a cement foundation that extends below the frost line. This cement foundation shall not extend beyond the length and width of the monument base and shall not protrude above grade. All monument foundations are to be installed by the Association. All monuments are to be set on this foundation by the memorial supplier. All markers are to be installed by the Association. All bronze markers are to be installed on a cement or granite base.

An installation authorization order, along with the appropriate installation fee, must be received by the Association before any monument or marker is installed at Memorial Park. This installation authorization is to include memorial specifications, the specific location, and signature of the property owner or authorized agent. The appropriate fee for the installation of markers provided by the Veterans Administration shall be paid at the time the Association signs the government application. Installations are not likely to occur after mid-October or before mid-April. Memorial and foundation installations are grouped in batches and are scheduled on an as-needed basis. The Association may refuse delivery of any monument or marker when the appropriate installation authorization order/ government application and the fee have not been received.

Monuments shall be installed Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. The required foundation order and fee must have been received and the foundation must be complete before the installation takes place. Memorial Park will not receive a monument shipped to the Association by common carrier. Memorial Park may postpone monument installation when such work might damage the grounds. Markers shall be delivered to the Association’s utility building Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Markers shipped via common carrier shall include inside delivery. Markers are not to be placed in the interment space by the supplier. The return of any memorial due to rules and regulation requirements shall be the responsibility of the supplier.

Memorial Park shall arrange for lettering or design additions to previously installed monuments and markers. Such work shall require the appropriate permission from the owner of the memorial or authorized agent. Outside contractors shall also be permitted to add lettering or design to previously installed monuments and markers. It shall be the responsibility of these contractors to secure the appropriate permission. All lettering and design work shall take place weekdays between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. All contractors must receive clearance for the Association before proceeding with such work.

The lettering of all Mausoleum crypt and columbarium niche shutters shall be completed by Memorial Park. Such lettering will be completed in accordance with lettering patterns established for each building. Outside contractors shall not be permitted to do this work.

Urns set on monument spaces in place of a monument or urns set at each end of a monument shall be set on cement foundations installed by Memorial Park for a stated fee.

All monuments, markers, and urns are placed at the sole risk of the property owner.

Decorations

Battle Creek Memorial Park is a place of natural beauty and order. The minimal rules that follow are intended to permit the expression of love and loss while at the same time preserving the appearance of the Park for the enjoyment of all visitors.

Memorial Park Association believes in the character and sincerity of natural decorations. Cut flowers are always welcome, winter greenery and potted plants are appropriate during specified seasons. Artificial decorations are never welcome. Special rules apply to mausoleum crypts and columbarium niches.

Cut flowers are welcome anytime. Vases are available behind the cemetery office building for use by visitors. The laying of flowers on the burial site or memorial is also acceptable.

Potted plants in 8″ to 12″ diameter pots are welcome May 15th through September 15th. One pot per interment is permitted.

Urns that are heavier than the 8″ to 12″ pots are welcome for placement on the monument bases (not markers), on cement pads at either end of the monument or on a cement pad on the monument space in place of a monument. All such cement pads are to be provided and installed by the Association.

Evergreen decorations are welcome between November 15th and March 15th. Saddles are welcome on monuments. Grave blankets and wreaths are welcome for placement on the individual interment spaces. One decoration per interment is permitted. Potted decorations are not permitted during the winter decoration season.

Special decoration rules apply to mausoleum crypts and columbarium niches. As on the cemetery grounds, cut flowers are welcome anytime for placement at the base of units. Nothing is ever to be attached, in any way, to the face of a crypt or niche.

Potted plants in 8″ to 12″ diameter pots are welcome for placement at the base of the exterior units are welcome from May 15th through September 15th. One pot per unit is permitted. Potted plants suitable for use inside are permitted for placement at the base of interior units at holiday times but for no more than seven days.

Urns are not permitted for crypts or niches.

Evergreen wreaths are welcome between November 15th and March 15th for placement at the base of exterior mausoleum or columbarium units. Wreaths are prohibited inside the Chapel Building.

Battle Creek Memorial Park Association assumes no responsibility for the protection or maintenance of any decorations. This includes decorations that may be damaged in the course of normal cemetery operations. Unsightly decorations will be removed and disposed of. Decorations in damaged containers will be disposed of. Any prohibited decorations will be removed and disposed of. Decorations deemed offensive by the Association General Manager will be removed and disposed of. The Association is under no obligation to notify visitors of the removal and disposal of any decoration.

All decorations left after September will be disposed of along with their containers. The permanent urns will be emptied and left in place. The covering of permanent urns with tarpaulins of any kind is prohibited. All decorations left after March 15th will be disposed of along with their stands, clamps, etc. Holiday potted decorations left inside the Chapel will be disposed of after the seven-day limitation.

Decorations associated with funeral/committal services will be left on the interment site or at the base of the crypt or niche until they become unsightly, seven days maximum. Once removed, they will be disposed of.

Anything other than the decorations specified above is prohibited. Prohibited decorations include, but are not limited to, toys, balloons, shells, images, crosses, screens, arbors, trellises, shepherd hoods, candles, lights, lawn ornaments, statues, wind chimes, flags, windsocks, decorative stone, wood chips, fences, and permanent plantings. The one exception being the American Flags that are placed on veteran interment sites for the Memorial Day weekend.

As both a fundraiser and service to our families, the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek places potted plants each Memorial Day weekend here at Memorial Park. Likewise, Memorial Park places winter wreaths the week of Thanksgiving. Both of these services are provided on a standing order basis. Please contact the Park office for details.