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Re: Polk City Cemetery in Danger of Being Destroyed

Dear Gary,   Would it be possible for local people to chip in to buy 1/2 or 1 acre next to the cemetary and donate it to the cemetary in return for saving the prairie? Just an idea.   Wayne Morton

  Gary Tonhouse <garyt@reflectiveimages.com> wrote:

Polk City Cemetery Prairie in Danger of Being Destroyed!!!

The Polk City Cemetery has for 15 years been worked on and renovated promoting this very diverse dry site prairie. Concern mounted this fall when the Madison Township Board of Trustees had the prairie mowed fencerow to fencerow for reasons unknown. Many Big Root Prickly Pear Cactus fell to the brush hog mower. Now significant amounts of fill dirt are being poured onto the prairie by the boards own admission to make room for additional grave sites.

This small prairie has been utilized and enjoyed by many IPN members for years with prairie walks scheduled annually. Other groups like ISU, DMACC and various high schools field trip to this location for many prairie learning sessions. PLEASE assist us in voicing our concern and protest over this very unique plant community. It is important that IPN joins the fight and stop this major threat in it's tracks.  


Field of Purple Coneflowers at the Polk City Cemetery.
Courtesy Gary Tonhouse

If you live in Polk City, Polk County, or Madison Township, your tax dollars are being used to dump fill dirt on, and destroy the Polk City Cemetery Prairie.  You  encouraged to contact your representatives to let them know how you feel:

Madison Township Trustees: 
Alvin Lund
14491 NW 72nd St. Polk City, Iowa 50226
515-685-3257 

Maurice Austin
801 Waldo St. Polk City, Iowa 50226
515-984-6135 

Dorothy Barton
6532 NW 142nd St. Polk City, Iowa 50226. 

Clerk: 
Betty Berggren
12382 NW Sheldahl Dr. Polk City, Iowa 50226
515-984-6446 

Polk County Supervisor:
Angela Connolly
111 Court Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
515-286-3117

County Board of Supervisors
countyboard@co.polk.ia.us

Polk County Conservation Board
p*@co.polk.ia.us

Map of the Area

Map of the Cemetery, with surrounding Corps of Engineers' land delineated

Map of Madison Township area, Polk County


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