Murphysboro council updates cemetery code, pledges maintenance after headstone concerns

The Murphysboro City Council on a unanimous voice vote approved modernized revisions to Chapter 9 of the municipal code governing cemeteries and discussed next steps for clearing brush, locating lost markers and repairing headstones.

Why it matters: Council members said the updates align city rules with current standards and will make it easier to coordinate maintenance and volunteer efforts at the city-owned burial ground where some markers have deteriorated over time.

Council members and residents described decades‑old tombstones, volunteer restoration efforts and a past city payment of $5,100 in 2015 for markers. A council member said the city will ask seasonal staff and volunteers to help clear brush so hidden headstones can be located and assessed. The meeting also included a public comment urging the city to consider security-style lighting to discourage trespassing and accidental damage.

At the meeting a speaker recalled that a volunteer (identified in the record as Mike Jones) had placed markers in the past and that family records or a small paper book might help locate additional graves. Council members urged staff to consult Laura (referenced in the record) about archived information and possible marker sources.

The council also authorized additional work by a contractor (discussed as RIP Limited) to address immediate maintenance needs; that motion carried. In adopting the code revisions, the council’s motion was seconded and approved during the meeting.

The session opened with a moment of silence for former council member Mike Bant, who previously served as a city code officer. Members said his family had reached out to the council and that he had been a longtime, well-known presence in the community.

Next steps: Staff will coordinate brush-clearing and follow up with council on replacement markers, and the city will consult the archives and volunteers to map unmarked graves. Council members suggested consulting Laura for records and determining funding and timelines for any larger preservation work.