Dowagiac Cemetery Board’s growing concern over Burling Cemetery on Pokagon Street and its long-term maintenance and care has been addressed.

City Clerk James Snow researched the title for the cemetery on Pokagon Street and found ownership has never been with the city, although it is in the city and the city has maintained it.

To clarify that the city has no property interest, the Cemetery Board wanted to provide the Burling family trust, 306 Willard St., with a quit-claim deed, subject to review by City Attorney Mark Westrate.

The Cemetery Board March 21 also voted to seek approval of funeral director Brad Yazel joining the panel — a request Second Ward Councilman Bob Schuur relayed to the mayor and council.

Schuur made the motion for the quit-claim deed.

“The Burling family has plans to do some nice things at that cemetery,” Schuur said, “which, because we don’t own it, we’re not able to do. We found that out after going into a lot of preparation to beautify that piece of property.”

Council authorized City Manager Kevin Anderson and City Treasurer Robin Coffey to pay $195,344.64 — invoices for $73,191.04 and payroll of $122,153.60 for the period ending March 10 (since the council lacked a quorum two weeks ago); and $680,587.14 — $502,193.22 in bills and payroll of $178,393.92 for the period ending March 24.

Anderson commented that he was glad to hear from Coach Danum Hunt that the basketball team liked being escorted by firetrucks and squad cars with sirens blaring.

“Twice,” the city manager related, “I was on the phone and those were going off as they came by my office. One person said, ‘Isn’t there something you really need to go do?’ I said, ‘No, I’m okay, I’m watching a parade go by.’ ”