The city council voted Feb. 3 to change flower regulations and hours of operation at the Riverton City Cemetery, effective April 1. 

The new regulations will change the cemetery’s hours of operation to be more specific. The cemetery will now remain open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. — a change from the previous “dusk to dawn” allocation. 

“People go by the cemetery early in the morning,” said Riverton Councilman Paul Wayman. “So why make a law or a rule that is not going to be enforced?” 

Before the time change, anyone on cemetery property prior to dusk or after dawn could be charged with a misdemeanor. However, Wayman said the nonspecific language was unclear to mourners. 

The cemetery will also go back to enforcing restrictions on artificial flowers, said Parks and Public Services Director Sheril Garn. The restriction allows artificial flowers only on gravestone monuments and markers.

 “Everyone mourns differently,” Garn said. “But if you want your cemetery to be pristine and well-cared for, you have to have some rules.” 

The artificial flower restriction comes in light of maintenance and mowing problems associated with the plastic. 

However, “It’s still going to be a problem because we have so many people who don’t have headstones,” Garn said. “So we’re going to try and be very mindful and respectful of that.”