Those in attendance at Tuesday’s Memorial Day service at the Plains Cemetery got to see first-hand they new upgrades to the facility.

With a newly-installed in-ground sprinkler system, a freshly paved driving path and decorations on nearly all veteran’s graves, the cemetery was in full splendor for the annual event.

“The best thing about all of this is that it has been done without any burden to the taxpayers whatsoever,” Plains Cemetery Sexton Ken Jones said. “This has all been done through contributions and donations. If it were not for those seemingly small $5 and $10 donations, none of this would have been possible.”

According to Jones, the upgrade project has been ongoing, but got a real boost last month when area resident Marvin Rehbein donated the necessary funds to pave the drive through the cemetery. The estimated $100,000 donation was made to the cemetery in mid May, and one week later on May 23, the paving work began. One hard day of work and 300 tons of asphalt later, the cemetery’s roads had a new look.

“We are really trying to restore the cemetery and bring out all of its potential splendor,” Jones said. “Our long-term goal is to achieve a state of perpetual care where someone will be able to take care of the cemetery in less than 40 hours per week.”

Jones says the cemetery is currently in phase three of planned upgrades. Phase one included the replacing of the main water line while phase two involved the installation of an in-ground sprinkler system in the upper Catholic portion of cemetery. Work on phase three (the completion of the sprinkler system) has begun, with 20-25 percent of the remaining system having already been installed. Jones says the cemetery hopes to have phase three completed by April of 2018. There may also be a phase four, with upgrades to be determined.

According to Jones, the new sprinkler system not only helps the cemetery look good, but it also saves taxpayers a considerable amount of money by cutting back water usage.

Along with the sprinkler system, Jones says more than 200 new trees and shrubs have been recently planted at the cemetery, along with thousands of flowers. In addition, Jones says Nathan Bache is working with Tree City USA (a division of the Arbor Day Foundation) to establish a tree board for the Cemetery and Sanders County.

With all of the new improvements, Jones says the cemetery is getting some much-needed attention and more and more people are becoming involved.

“Since Marvin’s donation, more people have been calling us wanting to donate to the cemetery,” Jones said. “People are also wanting to have a say in the where the donations are spent.”

The cemetery board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in Plains City Hall.

“It would be great to get more people to attend the meetings,” Jones said. “Fresh blood and new ideas are always welcome.”