Cemetery dividing fence coming down Wednesday

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Plans to remove the fence that long separated two private Mineola cemeteries were delayed until this Wednesday (July 15).

The work, anticipated to begin last Wednesday, had to be postponed due to wet conditions.

Though the city of Mineola does not own either property – and never has, according to City Manager Mercy Rushing – the city agreed to bring in its manpower and equipment to get the job done.

An agreement was reached between the two governing bodies of the Cedar Memorial Gardens and what has been known as the Black city cemetery.

Cedar Memorial is just off S. Pacific St., with the Black cemetery on the west side.

The subject of the two properties was broached 12 years ago when an agreement included opening a drive between the two properties and allowing burials on either side.

Rushing said the city would keep tabs on its costs for the work, which will be paid from community development funds.

She said waivers have been received from both groups to protect the city from any unintentional damage from removing the chain-link fence, which is lengthy and has many shrubs and bushes in and around it.

A conversation about the fence was spurred following a burial July 3 in the Black section of the cemetery.

Officials and citizens were expected to gather at 9 a.m. Wednesday to formally kick off the work, with COVID-19 protocols in place.