New Hanover commission worries about moving graves

WILMINGTON, NC (AP) — New Hanover County commissioners are worried about plans to move some graves in an historically black church to make room for a road-widening project.

The StarNews of Wilmington reported the commission had planned to discuss a resolution Monday acknowledging the North Carolina transportation department plan to move some graves at Mt. Ararat African Methodist Episcopal Church.

At an agenda session Thursday, Commissioner Jonathan Barfield criticized the plan.

The board removed the item from Monday’s agenda after Barfield expressed his concerns, noting his grandparents were buried in the cemetery, although their graves were not among those scheduled to be moved.

The commissioners said they would discuss the project again in July.

But County Attorney Wanda Copley told the panel they don’t have the authority to stop the move.

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Information from: The StarNews, http://starnewsonline.com

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