Overseers
The Inter Local Agreement adopted by the Kenton County Fiscal Court and the City of Covington in 1998 and subsequently amended in 2010, provides for the establishment of a Board of Overseers to operate and maintain Linden Grove Cemetery. The Board of Overseers currently consists of 3 members appointed by the City of Covington, 3 members appointed by the Kenton County Fiscal Court, and 3 At Large members appointed jointly by the City and County members. The Inter Local Agreement specifies that at least one of the At Large members of the Board must be familiar with Cemetery operations. Board members appointed by the local jurisdictions serve without remuneration for a term of three years with no limit on the number of successive terms. At Large Board members serve without remuneration for staggered terms of 1, 2, or 3 years with no limit on the number of successive terms. Under Kentucky law, the Cemetery’s Board of Overseers is a special purpose governmental entity (SPGE). View full by-laws here.
Operations
The City of Covington Finance Department maintains the Cemetery’s operating funds, and the Kenton County Attorney serves as Legal Counsel for the Cemetery Board. The City and County provide an annual allocation of $30,000 each from their respective General Fund operating budgets to provide for the Cemetery’s operating expenses. The Board hires a Superintendent, adopts rules and regulations governing the Cemetery, and approves an annual operating budget that provides for the costs of maintenance, equipment purchase and repairs, materials and supplies.
The Cemetery complies with all applicable Kentucky Revised Statutes governing the operation of cemeteries. Historic records are maintained by the Kenton County Public Library and the Northern Kentucky University Steely Library & Archives. Maintenance and preservation of all physical improvements in and to the Cemetery are the responsibility of the Cemetery through its Board with the costs of such maintenance provided in its’ annual operating budget. Since its inception, the Inter-Local Agreement for Linden Grove Cemetery has become a widely recognized model for inter-governmental cooperation.
MEETING MINUTES
The public can access the Board of Overseers database of Meeting Minutes below:
Superintendent
Rick Ludlum
Board of Overseers
The Linden Grove Board of Overseers is currently looking to add three new board members in the next year.
Click here to submit an interest form!
Emily Swisher
Chair; Marketing Committee
Elaine Kuhn
Vice Chair
Aaron Wolpert
Secretary; Building & Grounds Committee
Annie Venerable
Member; Marketing Committee
Jean Beck
Treasurer, At-Large Member
Tony Noll
Member; Building & Grounds Committee
Steve Clifford
Member, County Appointee
Fritz Kuhlmann
Member; Building & Grounds Committee
Kathy Summe
Member, City Appointee
In 2009, initial design concepts for planned improvements at the Cemetery were developed by Meisner & Associates LandVision. This document provides a framework and foundation for the Cemetery Master Plan and was widely published for essential stakeholder input. Cost $5,000. Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation.
MAPPING & CENSUS
As a result of the collaboration with the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement at Northern Kentucky University, an Archaeology class, headed by Professor Jeannine Kreinbrink, mapped and indexed all existing headstones in the Cemetery as a Service Learning Project. As part of a collaborative effort with the University of Kentucky, six areas in the Cemetery were investigated for unmarked graves using Ground Penetrating Radar. This data, along with previously published research, will provide an essential foundation for the ongoing effort to complete an accurate and comprehensive census of the Cemetery. Cost $1,100. Funding for this project was provided by a grant from Northern Kentucky University and the Cemetery’s 2009-2010 operating budget.
MASTER PLAN
In 2007, the Friends of Linden Grove initiated the effort to develop a Master Plan for the Cemetery. The concept of a Master Plan was originally identified as a priority in the Board of Overseers’ 2005 Annual Report. The ongoing development process will produce a Cemetery Master Plan that prioritizes needed physical improvements that can be implemented in multiple phases over a 10 to 12 year period. These improvements are an essential part of the effort to improve public awareness and appreciation of the Cemetery as an important historic and cultural asset to the City of Covington and Northern Kentucky.
Land Use Analysis
In 2008, a Land Use Analysis was completed by Larry Sloane Consulting Group that reviewed existing land uses and made recommendations for possible alternative uses. The report is a key component of the Master Plan document. Based on the recommendations made in the Analysis, a variety of burial options, including in-ground burials, columbaria, and scattering gardens, will be provided at Linden Grove Cemetery. Cost $2,000. Funding for this project was provided by a Place Matters Grant awarded by the Center for Great Neighborhoods.