March 6, 2012 Alexandria, VA.
City Reneges on Agreement with Oakland Baptist Church to Stop Damage to Cemetery Graves
Yesterday Rich Baier, Director of the Dept. of Transportation & Environmental Services informed homeowners and members of the Oakland Baptist Church that the City of Alexandria would not complete the interim storm water management improvements within Fort Ward Park until the completion of the park management plan. The improvements that have not been completed involve management of water runoff from park and residential lands that flow directly into the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.
The park management plan is scheduled to be completed by no latter than September 2013. At that time City funds may, or may not, be available to implement the recommendations.
Instead of completing the interim project to reduce damage to graves and grave stones within the cemetery, Mr. Baier urged church leaders to plant new grass in the cemetery and homeowners to "show leadership".
The decision to change the 2011 agreement was done without input from Oakland Baptist Church leaders and the majority of homeowners. The interim storm water project, a priority of City Council, was identified in the 2011 recommendations for Fort Ward Park, and funded in the 2012 budget.
Yesterday Rich Baier, Director of the Dept. of Transportation & Environmental Services informed homeowners and members of the Oakland Baptist Church that the City of Alexandria would not complete the interim storm water management improvements within Fort Ward Park until the completion of the park management plan. The improvements that have not been completed involve management of water runoff from park and residential lands that flow directly into the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.
The park management plan is scheduled to be completed by no latter than September 2013. At that time City funds may, or may not, be available to implement the recommendations.
Instead of completing the interim project to reduce damage to graves and grave stones within the cemetery, Mr. Baier urged church leaders to plant new grass in the cemetery and homeowners to "show leadership".
The decision to change the 2011 agreement was done without input from Oakland Baptist Church leaders and the majority of homeowners. The interim storm water project, a priority of City Council, was identified in the 2011 recommendations for Fort Ward Park, and funded in the 2012 budget.
