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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Agencies investigate string of Greenway fires ... Rogue River man gets prison for shooting at newspaper carriers ... Teenager sentenced to jail for freeway incidents ... Agencies investigate string of Greenway fires ... Rogue River man gets prison for shooting at newspaper carriers ... Teenager sentenced to jail for freeway incidents ... OUR VIEW Our View: Cemetery neighbors have a point Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News A word of advice to the Department of Veterans Affairs: Communication goes a long way. But communication was entirely absent from the planned expansion of the Eagle Point National Cemetery — except for a contractor who told neighboring homeowners that work would start the next day. They weren't told that hundreds of oak trees would be removed and a 15-foot retaining wall would go up adjacent to their backyards. They weren't given any details about the planned work or asked for their input. About a dozen homeowners in the 59-unit Hillsborough Estates Subdivision will be directly affected by the work. The cemetery has enough room to accommodate burials through 2030, but the expansion will extend that to 2077. About 22,000 burials have taken place there since the cemetery was opened in 1952. The neighbors are quick to insist they recognize the need to expand the cemetery and they support the VA and the work it does on behalf of veterans and their families. But they want officials to respond to their concerns and consider altering the plans to address those concerns. That's not an unreasonable request, but so far there has been little response. Local cemetery officials said they were told to refer calls to Bradley Phillips, the executive director of the National Cemetery Association's Pacific District, but he did not return calls seeking comment. A little communication goes a long way, but in this case it's been more like no communication at all, before or after the work began. Phillips is a public official who apparently prefers that the public doesn't bother him. Congressman Greg Walden's spokesman said Walden would be in touch with the VA — we wonder if Phillips will deign to respond to his calls. National Cemetery officials should meet with the neighbors soon, and seriously consider revising the expansion plans to make them more palatable to those who will be directly affected. The land in question is a cemetery and should be developed fully as a cemetery, but that doesn't mean it can't be done without some respect for its immediate neighbors. There's an old saying that good fences make good neighbors. But 15-foot retaining walls are something else entirely. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 30, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501