After much discussion, the town of Roseboro has decided to place lights in the city cemetery in an effort to ward off suspected illegal activity that is taking place during the night.
Complaints from individuals living near the cemetery have been coming in for a few months, with concerns centered around people gathering there after dark and doing drugs.
Last month, Roseboro comissioners discussed placing four lights in the cememtery, but no final decisions were made.
This month, discussions took place about whether or not the cemetery should be lit at all.
Comissioner Roland Hall opposed the idea, pointing out that he had taken special notice of cemeteries since last month’s meeting and that he saw no cemeteries lit during the night.
“There’s an old cemetery in Fayetteville and they’ve had trouble and problems with vandalism,” said Hall.”They haven’t put lights in.”
Mayor David Alexander reminded Hall that they were discussing what was necessary for Roseboro, not Fayetteville.
“And we’re not going to light it up like this room,” added Alexander.
“I would just like to see more evidence that this is a real problem and a real solution,” Hall answered.
Hall also brought up funding issues. “I think we first need to look at adding more plots in the cemetery because there is only four or five left out there now,” he said, noting cemetary expansion was a more pressing need and a better use of town money.
Trying to come to a compromise, Comissioner Anthony Bennett suggested that the board reduce the original number of lights from four to three, with two placed in the back of the cemetery and one in the middle.
Hall maintained that “you just don’t normally light a graveyard.”
When the discussion came to a close, the majority of the town board approved placing three lights in the cemetery.
There are currently no rules in the town of Roseboro about when people are allowed to visit the cemetery.
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