Veterans’ graves protected by Union County in smaller cemeteries

Union County has passed a resolution to continue funding the maintenance of veterans’ graves for smaller cemeteries, despite Iowa Code changing in the past year.

The Union County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution which codifies maintenance of veterans’ graves and specifies which cemeteries can apply for reimbursement, favoring smaller community cemeteries over city-owned or perpetual care cemeteries.

Veteran’s Affairs Director Gary Gelhaye informed the county board of state legislature approved in 2024. This section outlined by Gelhaye repealed a section of Iowa Code which covers the maintenance of graves. Previously, the county through the veteran’s affairs department could pay a sum on a case-by-case basis to cemetery caretakers for regular maintenance of veterans’ graves.

Gelhaye noted how Union County’s codes and ordinances make no mention of this service, previously offering no standard for how veteran’s affairs should reimburse cemeteries. He offered the county a chance to preserve this service in certain cemeteries. Three cemeteries in Union County have previously applied to veteran’s affairs for reimbursement in the past, Grove Chapel in Kent, Evergreen in Creston and Greenlawn in Afton.

The plan revolves around Gelhaye’s observations of other counties, with two key restrictions. Union County will not reimburse any public or private entity the cost of maintenance of veterans’ graves if the cemetery is owned by another taxing body (a city or township) or if the cemetery already receives perpetual care. Perpetual care is when maintenance services charge their customers for continued upkeep in the cemetery.

“If it’s a city-owned cemetery, that means they’re getting money from their city taxes to fund the cemetery,” Gelhaye said. “If they come to us for reimbursement, it’s kind of like double-dipping.”

The resolution codifies operations which veteran’s affairs has operated under in the past and now for the foreseeable future. Out of the three cemeteries who have applied previously, only Greenlawn, which is operated by the city of Afton and receives perpetual care, would not be able to receive reimbursement. Gelhaye said making the ordinance known could allow for smaller grave sites to receive the care fallen veterans deserve.

“I imagine there’s more out there, maybe they don’t even know about it,” Gelhaye said. “We do have a budget for that, it’s not a huge budget, but it’s out there for them.”

In other county board news...

Union County Attorney Shane O’Toole presented the 28E Agreement with Warren County to the board. Warren County has infrastructure available to serve multiple counties with court collections and has already partnered with Clarke County for the service. Union County will join Warren in a similar partnership, approving the agreement.

O’Toole said the partnership is more cost-effective than hiring a city employee to process only Union County court collections. While Warren County receives a 35% cut while providing the “legwork,” Union County only has to reimburse for postage.

“It’s like making their assistance an extension of our office,” O’Toole said.

The board approved a resolution which establishes salaries for county officials for the next fiscal year beginning on July 1. The Union County auditor, recorder and treasurer will receive the highest increase at 3% for salaries of $76,003.81. The sheriff and supervisors will see an increase of 2% with salaries at $104,055.27 and $31,531.90, respectively. The budget director will receive a 1.75% increase with a salary at $3,500.00. The Union County attorney is the only position not receiving an increase, remaining at a salary of $121,733.51.

A public hearing for the Union County fiscal year 2026 budget was approved to take place at 9:10 a.m. on April 23.