LaFayette has scheduled a March 15 cleanup for the its cemetery — and the city wants to give a heads up to the public.

“They will probably start about 9 a.m.,” mayor Neal Florence said about the cleanup. “The purpose is to remove the Christmas flowers and … withered or faded arrangements.”

In November the city removed — by mistake, city officials said — all flowers and other items from graves at La-Fayette Cemetery. The cleanup angered many, and on Dec. 15 the city called a meeting to discuss the issue.

At the meeting council members and Florence revealed new regulations for upkeep of the cemetery.

About 60 people attended the meeting.

Florence thanked the 11-member committee that helped formulate the new regulations.

The city would hold three cleanups each year — in March, July and November.

The new regulations are posted at both entrances to the cemetery. The city promised to do more to get the word out about upcoming cleanups to avoid future confusions and mistakes.

Each plot is admitted one item on the plot. The person who purchased the plot must apply for a free permit for the one item and that permit is good for 90 days.

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Here are the new regulations:

· Flowers on headstones must be placed on top of headstone and/or sides in vases.

· Permitted permanent item is one item no taller than 24-inches.

· Ground cover: No trees are allowed at the gravesites, except those planted by the city. Sod (permitted) will be placed on all new graves and no gravel will be allowed on borders or fences.

· Benches must be placed at the foot of the grave facing the headstone and must be marble, metal, precast con-crete or treated wood; no longer than 48-inches acceptable.

· Permits are free for special placements for special occasions and on a 90-day limit.

· Pets are not allowed, except for service animals (seeing eye dogs).

· Cleanup will be held by mid-March, mid-July and the first week in November for Veterans Day. Boy Scouts or other groups will conduct volunteer cleanups. The storage building will be demolished and/or removed.