Whenever it is necessary in the construction and in the protection by any municipal corporation, of dams, reservoirs, and reservoir sites, for supplying water to itself and its inhabitants, to take or damage any cemetery, such municipal corporation, after such taking, shall have the same powers regarding the removal of a cemetery as are given to township trustees by section 517.21 of the Revised Code, and the cost of removal shall be paid by the municipal corporation. Such municipal corporation 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 the said cemetery for such removal, or it may contract for an easement if removal is not desired nor necessary.

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 cemeteries are 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. If a new trial is not granted, such municipal corporation may pay into court the total amount of the compensation assessed, or secure its payment by a deposit of money under the order of the court, and thereupon the persons or authorities owning or controlling the cemetery shall remove the bodies and monuments from the cemetery appropriated. If the cemetery owners or authorities or the municipal corporation prosecute an appeal, as provided by law, then such municipal corporation may pay into court the amount of such assessments, less the amount of the special finding of the jury as to the cost of removal, and proceed to enter upon the property appropriated and make the removal at its own expense, as provided in this section.

Effective Date: 01-01-1966 .