A report before Windsor city council asks councillors if they want the city to assume ownership and maintenance of a private cemetery in the city's south end.
Fairbairn Union Cemetary, on Base Line Rd. near Conc. 8 opened in the early 1900s. Owned by the Fairbairn family, it was intended for residents living in Sandwich South.
Over the past 30 years, volunteers Ted Ure and Tom Weir have been caring for the plots, but now that they're in their 70s, they've admitted they can't keep up with the work. So, Fairbairn says the tough decision was made to go to the city.
"You're looking at probably about $3,000 a year," says Fairbairn. "Tom's been doing it since he retired. I mean, he's just basically paying himself enough to cover gasoline, and when you start cutting two acres of grass around headstones, it causes a lot of wear and tear on your machine."
If the Council agrees to take over the cemetery, the Parks Department could take over maintenance or the city could hire a contractor.