Cemetery Board public meetings in 2024

Cemetery Board

The Louisiana Cemetery Board's Investigative Committee will meet to discuss proposed enforcement actions against four cemeteries: Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Faith Memorial Park Cemetery, Garden of Memories of Alexandria, and Memorial Park Cemetery. The board will also consider approving pre-construction sales projects for several church and city cemeteries, and review proposed amendments to policies on finances, ethics, and disaster preparedness.

• Discussion of proposed enforcement actions against 4 cemeteries (Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Faith Memorial Park, Garden of Memories, Memorial Park)
• Approval of pre-construction sales projects for 5 church and city cemeteries
• Approval of 11 new non-exempt and 13 new exempt Certificates of Authority for cemeteries across Louisiana
• Review of proposed amended policies on financial procedures, ethics attestation, and disaster preparedness
• Executive session for personnel matters and ongoing litigation

The Board approved the 2025 budget and a fee increase for 2026. It established consent orders for Roselawn Memorial Gardens and Garden of Memories of Alexandria to resolve trust fund deficits and issued multiple cemetery licenses. The Board also approved salary increases for the Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director.

• Approved 2025 Budget and 2026 fee increase to $15.00 per interment/entombment (Unanimous)
• Approved Consent Order for Roselawn Memorial Gardens to pay trust deficits over 24 months (Unanimous)
• Approved Consent Order for Garden of Memories of Alexandria to pay trust deficits over 18 months (Unanimous)
• Dismissed case against Memorial Park Cemetery regarding missing trust reports (Unanimous)
• Approved refund of overpayments to SCI for Metairie Cemetery Association ($129,121.10) and St. Bernard Memorial Gardens ($11,402.11) (Unanimous)
• Approved 7 pre-construction sales projects and 32 new cemetery licenses (Unanimous)
• Approved 6% pay increase for Executive Director Sullivan and 4% for Assistant Director Arbo (Unanimous)
• Approved amendments to Policies and Procedures Sections 2, 3, and 9 (Unanimous)

Cemetery Board

The Louisiana Cemetery Board Investigative Committee will meet to discuss potential investigations into four specific cemetery authorities. These discussions will take place during an executive session.

• Potential investigation 2024-006-I: Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Calhoun
• Potential investigation 2024-005-I: Faith Memorial Park, Delhi
• Potential investigation 2024-007-I: Garden of Memories of Alexandria, Inc.
• Potential investigation 2024-008-I: Memorial Park Cemetery, Inc. (New Iberia)

Cemetery Board

The Louisiana Cemetery Board is holding a meeting on May 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in Metairie. The agenda provided contains only the notice of meeting with no listed items for discussion or decision. This appears to be a procedural meeting.

The Board approved numerous cemetery licenses and pre-construction sales projects. It issued a cease and desist order for Word of Truth New Life Center and authorized a subpoena for Rest Haven Memorial Park. The Board also approved financial statements and travel for staff to attend industry conventions.

• Approved 2023 financial statements (unanimous)
• Ordered Winnfield Memorial Park to verify all records and maps within 120 days (unanimous)
• Approved Consent Agreement with Parklawn Memorial Gardens regarding disinterment records (unanimous)
• Granted Heard Cemetery Association 30 additional days to complete license application (unanimous)
• Closed investigation into Vantage Products, Inc. after proof of insurance/bonding (unanimous)
• Approved 7 pre-construction sales projects and 21 new/transfer licenses (unanimous)
• Authorized cease and desist order for Word of Truth New Life Center (unanimous)
• Authorized subpoena for records from Rest Haven Memorial Park (unanimous)

Cemetery Board

The Louisiana Cemetery Board's Investigative Committee is holding a meeting on March 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in Metairie. The agenda contains only procedural boilerplate with no specific items listed for discussion or decision.

• No specific agenda items provided; meeting appears to be routine procedural business