LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A viewer’s tip about trash scattered around Evergreen Cemetery led News 6 to begin looking into who maintains the property, how often it is serviced and what happened to the debris.
Lake County now says its staff removed 25 bags of illegally dumped trash Tuesday from the portion of the cemetery owned by the county.
Evergreen Cemetery, located at 10200 Bay Street in the Leesburg area, is divided between public and private ownership. Lake County says it owns approximately one acre toward the rear of the cemetery, while the majority of the property is privately owned and maintained separately.
The county said all 25 bags removed this week came from its one-acre section.
“Lake County takes its responsibility to maintain County-owned property seriously, and we appreciate the concerns being brought to our attention,” the county said in a statement to News 6.
County says illegal dumping happened after contractor’s visit
After receiving the viewer’s tip, News 6 asked Lake County about the condition of the cemetery and the maintenance of its property.
The county said its maintenance contractor had visited Evergreen before the illegal dumping occurred.
According to the county, the contractor did not report the 25 bags because the dumping happened after its most recent visit.
County officials also told News 6 that staff regularly visit the cemeteries it maintains to make sure the contractor is fulfilling its responsibilities.
The county said it has reviewed the contractor’s work and determined the company is meeting the requirements of its agreement.
Lake County previously said it was following up with the contractor after the concerned citizen contacted the county and would “reinforce expectations regarding the property’s condition and upkeep.”
Contract calls for trash pickup three days a week
News 6 reviewed Lake County Contract 23-755, the agreement covering cemetery landscape maintenance and related services.
Lake County awarded the contract to Miller Property Management in January 2024.
The written scope of work requires mowing, trash removal, weed eating, trimming and blowing on a weekly basis. It separately requires trash pickup every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, including holidays, and blowing on Mondays and Fridays.
News 6 asked Lake County whether that maintenance schedule had since been changed.
The county responded: “No, no change.”
The contract also requires the contractor to immediately report certain conditions discovered while performing its work, including illegal dumping, vandalism, hazards and property damage.
County officials said the dumping involved in this week’s cleanup occurred after the contractor had visited the property.
$45,300 annual contract covers seven cemeteries
Lake County told News 6 it currently pays $45,300 annually under Contract 23-755 to maintain seven cemetery locations.
Of that total, $4,500 per year is allocated to the county-owned portion of Evergreen Cemetery.
The county’s official bid records show the same annual amounts: $45,300 for all seven locations and $4,500 for the one-acre Evergreen property.
The seven cemetery properties covered under the agreement total more than 15 acres.
The county says it continues to monitor those properties and verify that contracted maintenance work is being performed.
Cemetery includes private property, too
Lake County emphasized that its responsibility does not extend to the entire Evergreen Cemetery property.
“The County owns approximately one acre toward the rear of the cemetery and contracts for its maintenance,” the county said. “The remainder of the cemetery is privately owned and maintained separately.”
County officials said there is currently no active Lake County Code Enforcement case involving the privately owned portion of Evergreen Cemetery.
The 25 bags removed Tuesday, the county clarified, were not from that privately owned area. They were illegally dumped on county-owned property.
The county said it understands the broader concern about the condition of a cemetery where families come to visit loved ones.
“While the County is not responsible for maintaining the privately owned portion of the cemetery, we understand the importance of maintaining a respectful environment for families visiting their loved ones,” the county said.
Neighbor calls for closer monitoring
Frank Szeliga has lived near the cemetery for roughly 20 years. He told News 6 he believes the property should be checked more frequently to discourage people from using it as a dumping site.
“They should do a check every once in a while … make sure it’s checked and watched a little more closely,” Szeliga said.
Signs at the property already warn against trespassing and illegal dumping.
Szeliga said additional monitoring could help.
“I think they should have more security there,” he said, later suggesting cameras as another option.
Lake County has not identified who illegally dumped the trash that was removed this week.
For now, county officials say the debris has been removed, the contractor remains in compliance with its maintenance agreement and county staff will continue checking its cemetery properties.