Whenever it is necessary for the purpose of a conservancy district to take or damage any cemetery, the board of appraisers of the conservancy district shall appraise the cost of such taking or easement or the amount of such damage in the same manner as appraisals are made for other property.

The board of directors of the conservancy district after such taking shall have the same powers regarding the removal of a cemetery as are given to a board of township trustees by section 517.21 of the Revised Code, and the cost of removal shall be paid by the district. The board of directors may purchase the necessary land, and remove or contract for the removal of those buried, together with all monuments, or it may agree with the persons or authorities owning or controlling such cemetery for such removal, or it may contract for an easement if removal is not desired.

If condemnation proceedings are necessary, they shall be instituted and conducted according to sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code, in the county where such cemetery is located, and it shall be sufficient to make the persons or authorities owning or controlling the cemetery parties defendant, but the court may upon proper showing of interest admit other parties defendant. The jury in such case shall make a separate finding and include in its verdict the cost of the removal of bodies and monuments as provided in section 517.21 of the Revised Code. The district may pay into court the total amount of the judgment as directed by section 163.15 of the Revised Code, and the persons or authorities owning or controlling the cemetery shall thereupon remove the bodies and monuments from the cemetery appropriated. If the cemetery owners or authorities prosecute an appeal as provided by law, then the district may pay into court the amount of the judgment as provided in section 163.15 of the Revised Code, less the amount of the special finding of the jury as to cost of removal, and proceed to enter upon the property appropriated and make the removal at its own expense.

Effective Date: 01-01-1966 .