Litchfield City Council decided this week to end years of lenient enforcement of Lake Ripley Cemetery decoration regulations.

The Council agreed Monday to begin strict enforcement of regulation 5A, which calls for removal of all decorations from the ground around gravesites by June 15. Included in the enforcement are flags; cut, plastic or silk flowers; and other decorations of similar nature.

Council member Larry Dahl, who helps maintain the cemetery grounds, asked his fellow members to review the rules because of what he called “too much clutter” at the cemetery.

“It’s impossible to mow and trim around the gravesites” because of that clutter, which is created because decorations go up around Memorial Day and never are removed.

“We’ve been very lenient in the past, and unfortunately, now is the time to start enforcing this rule,” Dahl said. “I know we’re going to have people upset with us ... but I think we’ve gone over and above what  the rule says.”

Council member Connie Lies said she was concerned about the hard feelings that might arise because of strict enforcement. She said the city should be cautious in implementing the rule if family members had not been made aware of the restrictions placed on decorations.

However, City Attorney Mark Wood said that the deeds for each gravesite include notice that all rules set by the city must be abided by.

One exception to the June 15 rule is a so-called “extended grieving time” allowed families of a recently deceased person. In those cases, decorations can be left on the ground at the gravesite for up to a year after the person’s death.