Jefferson County commissioners met this week to discuss proposed upgrades at the Mount Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, with a focus on modernizing the veterans memorial and the nearby information kiosk.

Local veterans have been spearheading requests to the commissioners to improve the memorial area and kiosk, which currently sits in disarray, suffering due to exposure to the weather. Commissioner Seth Taylor, who is spearheading the search for grants to fund the project, shared potential options with the other commissioners and county staff during a visit to the cemetery.

Mount Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, located on Loucks Road and Bean Drive, was platted for the I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 196 in 1911.  The lodge operated the cemetery until they deeded it to Jefferson County in 1983. The cemetery has served as the final resting place for many local veterans and community members since its first burial in 1904.

The county has already purchased new flagpoles for the memorial area. They are now working with their grant services contractor to seek funding for improvements at the site before a final plan is brought to the commission for vote.