Arroyo Grande Cemetery visitors say the site disrespects their loved ones

Some Arroyo Grande locals are having a difficult time mourning their loved ones in peace. The problem? They say the Arroyo Grande cemetery is poorly maintained.

Miranda Osteen is one of them.

” There’s a lot of disrespect toward our family members and military personnel,” said Osteen. “We have a lot of empty promises. For example our gopher holes, they are out of control. As well as our headstones. They should not be buried in dirt.”

She’s not the only one who feels this way.

” I’ve seen better old cemeteries that have been abandoned that look better than this,” Terry Andrews of Oceano said.

Management recognizes there is a problem and says they’re trying to do their best.

“W e’ve killed, trapped about 1,400 gophers in the past 14 months,” Mike Marselik, the manager, told KCOY 12.

But according to Marselik, it’s not easy maintaining the 20-acre place on their own. Especially after recent heavy storms.

“T here are 16,000 headstones out here and it takes a long time to do 16,000 headstones with two or three men,” he explained.

Marselik said two more people would be soon joining his staff, and hopes the extra help will meet visitors’ expectations.