• Call the City Hall during standard operating hours
• Have the statistical information ready (full legal name, birth, death, veteran status, next of kin)
• Know the grave/niche location
  • New purchases are ideally made in person but can be done by phone
  • Plots can be purchased with cash, check, or money order; we are not able to accept credit/debit cards for plot purchases at this time
  • Burials in a grave require the grave, open/close, liner, or polyvault
• Decide on a burial date and time
  • Weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm
  • Saturdays between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm (additional fees apply)
  • Burials are typically not allowed on Sundays or certain holidays, exceptions can be granted for religious need
• Payment in full must be made prior to the date for burial

Highland Cemetery Guidelines 

New rules that where voted on and approved by Pawnee City Council November, 5th 2025

Purpose

To preserve the dignity, beauty, and safety of the cemetery grounds while allowing families to honor their loved ones with flowers and decorations in a respectful and orderly manner.

1. Fresh Flowers and Floral Arrangements

• Fresh cut flowers are welcome at any time throughout the year.

• Grounds staff will remove flowers when they become wilted, faded, or unsightly, at their discretion.

• Glass, ceramic, or breakable containers that are not attached to the gravestone marker are not permitted for safety reasons.

2. Artificial Flowers and Seasonal Decorations

• Artificial flowers may be placed on graves throughout the year. With the exceptions noted below.

o During mowing season (April 1 – October 31), all flowers and decorations placed on the ground are required to be removed to allow for proper maintenance. Grounds staff will remove and dispose of at their discretion.

o Holiday Exceptions: Decorations are allowed around holidays but must removed within seven days after the holiday if that holiday falls withing the mowing season (April 1 – October 31).

Memorial Day exception: Placement of decorations are allowed 7 days prior to the holiday but will need to be removed 7 days after the holiday to accommodate mowing maintenance.

• Cemetery staff will remove decorations after this period to maintain grounds appearance and safety.

3. Prohibited Items

• The following items are not permitted and will be removed without notice:

o Fences, borders, gravel, stones, or shells

o Shepherd hooks or hanging baskets that obstruct maintenance

Shepherds’ hooks are permitted after the mowing season (October 31 – March 30) with the understanding that they can prevent maintenance around the headstones and graver markers.

o Balloons, glass ornaments, glass solar lights, toys, or stuffed animals

o The planting of live flowers, bushes, trees, or shrubs is not permitted on or around graves, markers, or plots.

o Any decoration deemed hazardous, deteriorated, or inappropriate for a cemetery setting

4. Cleanup and Removal Dates

• Spring Cleanup: Begins April 1 each year. All decorations will be removed to prepare for mowing season.

• Fall Cleanup: Begins November 1 each year. All summer decorations will be removed to prepare for winter maintenance.

• Families wishing to keep decorations should remove them prior to cleanup dates. Items left after cleanup dates will be disposed of and cannot be retrieved.

5. Special Occasions

• Temporary floral tributes placed at the time of burial will be left for up to seven days following interment, or until they become unsightly.

• Families may coordinate with cemetery committee for special arrangements during anniversaries, birthdays, or memorial events.

6. Responsibility and Discretion

• The cemetery is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen decorations.

• The cemetery reserves the right to remove any items that interfere with groundskeeping, pose a hazard, or are inconsistent with the cemetery’s standards of respect and decorum.

*If there are any issues or concerns, please contact City Hall (918)762-2658