An otherwise routine request to purchase new electric-powered lawn mowers for the Woodland Cemetery led to preliminary discussion about the future of the cemetery itself.

Coming before the City Council, the $132,435 request for a new vehicle at the soon-to-be-completed swimming pool at the Woodland Senior & Community Center, and six replacement electric lawn mowers, drew the attention of Vice Mayor Tom Stallard.

Neither Stallard nor any council member objected to the new vehicle during debate on Tuesday night, which came under the “consent calendar,” where there is generally no debate or discussion.

However, Stallard said the lawn mowers should be part of a larger conversation, about how much money is being spent to operate the cemetery.

After a 15-minute deliberation, the council vote

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