AUBURN – The Auburn City Council agreed Monday to take over the care of the Sheridan Cemetery and Sheridan West Memorial Cemetery west of town after current caretakers said finances available for mowing would likely run out within two years.

The Sheridan Cemetery, which began with the burial of the daughter of John and Rachael Long in 1858, is resting place for 8,000 people. It is home to the Esther Chapel, WWII Veterans Memorial and Civil War canon.

The Sheridan Cemetery Association has been in charge of its care for 146 years. The Sheridan West cemetery was established in 1972.

Kathleen Grant of cemetery association said mowing and trimming is contracted out an hourly basis.

Grant: “It has become apparent that we can not keep maintaining the cemetery to the level of our expectations.”

The association has not received city, county or state funds.

Grant: “We are hoping the City of Auburn will accept this responsibility and continue to maintain these cemeteries for the benefit of Auburn.”

The association will turn over to the city about $108,000 in cash and savings, as well as two mowers, a tractor and a loader.

There is a $57,000 perpetual care fund that receives $25 from lot sales. Interest up to $5,000 can be used for care of the cemetery.

The city had already provided snow removal.

Councilman Tom Clark said the association would run out of funds in two years if it continues to pay $45 an hour for mowing and trimming.

With a 48-inch, zero-turn mower it takes approximately 10 hours to mow Sheridan. The west cemetery with a six-foot deck takes about 4.5 hours to mow. Old Sheridan Cemetery takes 25 hours to weed eat and new Sheridan takes three.

Clark said at $45 an hour the expense is about $1,200 to $1,400 per mowing.

Clark: “What we’re going to have to do, if we accept all this, we’re going to have to hire two more maintenance workers for the seasonal this year.”

Mayor Chris Erickson said the money for the new seasonal workers will come out of the parks budget.

Erickson: “We will be fine.”

City Administrator Crystal Dunekacke said a cemetery budget will be created and expenses will be tracked separately.

Grant said the cemetery association was receiving about $4,000 a year in donations. She said there is also income from lot sales.