Local

City accused of neglecting cemetery maintained with tax dollars

CHESTER, S.C. — Evergreen is a historic cemetery that isn't being kept up, even though taxpayer dollars are supposed to be put to work there.

Tall grass and weeds are overgrowing grave markers, forcing family members to keep up the resting places of their loved ones on their own.

Mary McWatters lost her husband in 2010 and visits his grave all the time.  She’s never needed to worry about its upkeep, until this year.

"I never thought that I'd come out here and it would look that bad," she said. "I can't keep taking care of this myself."

Other sites look worse. High grass surrounds them, and some markers are hidden entirely.

Evergreen is a large city cemetery that's supposed to be maintained by Chester Public Works.

Eighty-year-old Iva Hopper came to put flowers on her granddaughter's grave. It's only neat and orderly because she keeps it that way.

"I don't know what's happened, but they say the city doesn't have any money," she said.

That's true. Chester Public Works Director Reggie McBeth told Channel 9 that some employees have quit, others are on medical leave, and budgets are tight.

According to McBeth, the city used to pay private lawn services to do the work, but that got too expensive. Chester Public Works did not have specific budget figures to share on Wednesday.

But McBeth said they hope to begin working on the cemetery again soon, as the city is trying to fill those open positions. They expect to at least cut the grass by next week.

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