On August 28, 2001, Missouri Governor, Bob Holden, signed a Bill that affects many Lee's Summit residents, past, present and future.  In summary, the bill states "This bill allows the conveyance of cemetery property, other than ground in which human remains have been buried, back to a county, city, town, or village after 50 years if the grave site or property is unused or unclaimed.” The Bill requires that the political subdivision (city) give proper notice of proceedings to transfer ownership. Why does this effect Lee’s Summit residents? Because the historical Lee’s Summit Cemetery has only 200 grave spaces for sale. This bill has the potential of reinvesting 1,300 inactive grave spaces back into the cemetery inventory for Lee’s Summit citizens. 

The Historical Lee’s Summit Cemetery now has one more significant marker. The original wrought iron sign that once marked the entrance to the cemetery has been restored and placed at the southeast corner. The sign is known to have been part of the cemetery since 1860.

Bill Rust, Lee's Summit Cemetery Sexton, knows first hand how to create and pass a bill in Missouri. The first Cemetery Property Bill was submitted in February of 2000.  It was not passed. However, in January of 2001, a new Cemetery Property Bill, HB 408, was introduced to the House.  On June 11, 2001, Missouri Governor, Bob Holden, signed it.  This new Bill will affect many Lee's Summit residents, both past, present and future.  The summary of the bill states "This bill allows the conveyance of cemetery property, other than ground in which human remains have been buried, back to a county, city, town, or village after 50 years if the grave site or property is unused or unclaimed.”  There is a potential of having 1,300 additional grave spaces available from conveyance back to the cemetery.  The political subdivision (city) must give proper notice of proceedings to transfer ownership.  To understand the need for such a bill, it helps to know some history.