New 'green' cemetery in Blackhoof riles neighbors

Two dozen people attended Monday’s Carlton County board meeting to voice opposition to a new cemetery being established in Blackhoof Township, at what is known to locals as the old Gordon MacVey dairy farm on Pioneer Road.

The Loving Earth Memorial Gardens markets itself as a “eco-friendly” cemetery that provides burial of bodies that are not cremated or embalmed.

There are no concrete vaults, and the containers for the bodies are biodegradable. Preparation of the body is billed as “nontoxic.” Grave markers are made from natural, local materials.

According to the organization’s website, lovingearthmg.com, “bodies are interred in the ground, often at 3 or 4 feet deep, in a biodegradable coffin or shroud.” The website describes a new beginning for an ancient burial tradition coming in the fall of 2022 that will offer “open prairie, miles of wildflower-lined trails and thousands of pollinators buzzing and fluttering under a Minnesota sky.”

Many neighbors are opposed to the idea. A group of area residents led by Bruce Soukkala brought a petition signed by more than 100 people to the board. As group spokesperson, Soukkala raised a number of points against the cemetery being at the proposed site, including:

• The proposed burial site is surrounded by new housing development.

• Property values could be affected.

• Ground water and adjacent wetlands could be impacted.

• The new cemetery is within the Nemadji River watershed.

• Most counties in Minnesota require a conditional use permit in order to establish a new burial ground.

Matt Connell owns the land and is one of the principals for the cemetery. He does not live at the proposed site. He sent a letter read at the board meeting by Barbara Nichols. Connell wrote that he wished, “we can all work together in finding a solution to make this situation better.” He also commented:

• A burial may not occur for years after lots are sold.

• The cemetery will “remain a public, natural space filled with flowers and berries, in perpetuity.”

• No headstones.

• Huge deposits of sand in the area, maintaining the water table is safe.

• He will dig each grave by hand.

• Property values will not be affected since Loving Earth will be a public, natural space.

Those in opposition to the establishment of the cemetery asked the county board to stop any burials on the property.

Zoning administrator Heather Cunningham noted the property is zoned favorably for Connell to establish a cemetery on the property without a conditional use permit.

The county board has no legal authority to deny Connell the ability to start a cemetery, Cunningham said. With Loving Earth already in the process of establishing the cemetery using the current zoning rules, the county would lose in the courts if they tried to stop his efforts, the administrator added.

In other matters Monday

• The board approved promoting Lt. Dan Danielson to chief deputy effective immediately to replace Brian Belich, who will officially retire Nov. 28 but is using accrued leave until that time.

• Deputy Randy Roberts submitted a formal retirement letter effective May 29. Due to leave, he will no longer be working as of Nov. 30. The board approved filling the position before Roberts retires.

• The board accepted a $82,884 federal grant to pay for a drunk driving enforcement and traffic safety officer. The city of Cloquet also received a separate grant for its own DWI officer.

• Board members approved a $160,000 loan to the city of Carlton to replace the failed ice plant at Four Seasons Sports Complex. The loan will be paid back over 15 years at 2 percent interest.