Afton council swaps Greenlawn mowers

AFTON - Following two weeks since a warning was given to the previous cemetery mower, and with the Labor Day holiday arriving soon, Afton City Council has swapped mowers.

The job of mowing will temporarily be filled by Kelly Klommhaus, who will begin work Thursday, Aug. 29, to prepare Greenlawn Cemetery for visitations during Labor Day.

Greenlawn Cemetery has had trouble with upkeep ever since the previous caretaker had retired in 2021. Besides contracted mowing, upkeep to the cemetery has been provided by volunteers and during community clean-up days. Mowers typically trim grass and deploy weedeater.

Klommhaus had made a bid in March to be the mower for Greenlawn, but was declined. In his bid on Sunday, Klommhaus had also made offers for the months of September, October, and for 2025, but were declined by the council.

The council met in a special meeting Sunday to discuss changes to the upkeep of the cemetery. On Aug. 13, the council during a regular meeting had raised concerns about upkeep of the cemetery, citing areas which were under the standards set for mowing requirements.

Untrimmed areas and mulberry saplings, which were claimed to be growing on and disrupting graves, had brought the issue to the attention of the council. The city council wanted the cemetery to be in a presentable state by Labor Day, a traditionally busy day for the cemetery.

A letter was sent to the mower, Chloe Kerrigan, restating the standards for upkeep of Greenlawn Cemetery as well as warning of potential termination or withheld pay. On Sunday, Aug. 25, the council reconvened to discuss further business regarding Greenlawn.

The contract with Kerrigan was approved to be terminated during Sunday’s special meeting. After a closed session discussion with the city of Afton’s lawyer, the board chose to withhold 5% of Kerrigan’s contracted pay, the most the city could legally withhold.