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LOGAN — When you visit a cemetery, any cemetery, you’re supposed to feel a sense of peace and reflection.
“This is a sacred place. You can tell we’re out here and it’s quiet,” said Mark Johnson while walking in the Logan City cemetery.
Johnson is the sexton of Logan’s cemetery and loves coming to work every day.
"It's a very satisfying job, you know? Sometimes I deal with the emotions of people, but I get to help people,” said Johnson.
However, there is one part of the cemetery he doesn’t like so much because for him it doesn’t look so sacred.
"Oh yeah, repairs. It's needed, that's for sure,” said Johnson with a laugh.
After 25 years, the pillars at the main entrance on the east side of the cemetery have seen better days.
There are cracks and holes at the base of the four pillars, and they just don’t look as grand as the rest of the place.
"After all those years of rain, snow, ice, wind and UV rays, the fiberglass starts to wear and it starts to look like this,” said Russ Akina, Logan’s parks and recreation director.
Akina says the city has a place to replace the pillars with new pillars and an arch connecting them. He thinks the design will be a perfect fit for Logan’s cemetery. but the cost of the project is roughly $20,000, which the city just doesn’t have for a project like this right now.
"Budgets are straight line, and there's just no room there, you know?" said Johnson.
Knowing something had to be done to make the entrance more acceptable, Logan mayor Craig Petersen came up with an idea.
"This definitely is a first for us,” said Akina with a smile.
There are folks who, perhaps, would be willing to give to such a cause, as a way to perhaps honor their loved ones who are here.
–Russ Akina
Instead of trying to re-work city budgets to include a capital improvement project, why not ask the public for donations to see if enough money could be raised?
Crowdfunding is a big deal these days.
"I thought that's an awesome idea,” said Johnson.
Mayor Petersen included the idea in his monthly mayor letter, and donations started coming in.
“We still have a ways to go, but it took off right away,” said Akina. "There are folks who, perhaps, would be willing to give to such a cause, as a way to perhaps honor their loved ones who are here."
City leaders may also look to crowdfund other projects, like the July fireworks show.
"We call it our Freedom Fire Independence Day Celebration,” said Akina. “We’re asking for help from people to give what they can for that project to help us pay for fireworks."
City leaders know you can't crowdfund everything, but for smaller projects, they figure why not give it a try?
"People love the cemetery,” said Johnson. “And I’m sure a lot of people will want to help make it nice.”
If you would like to know more about Logan’s crowdfunding projects, or to donate*, you can click here.
*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
