To The Daily: I would like to clarify something in your "Forgotten Graves" article published Sept. 14.

Contrary to your article, neither the Morgan County Economic Development Association nor the Decatur-Morgan County Port Authority purchased or owns the Burt Cemetery property. The site is owned by TVA. You are correct, however, that during the development of Mallard-Fox Creek Industrial Park, we identified the boundaries of the cemetery and erected a fence to fully identify and protect the area during construction and beyond. Although we are under no formal obligation to maintain the cemetery now or in the future, we have, on occasion, provided various maintenance and cleanup support to the area at our expense. In fact, the Port Authority spent $2,400 to expedite the removal of several large trees that had fallen on the site after the April 27, 2011, tornadoes that struck that area.

We are committed to repairing the downed fence line this fall as the summer vegetation subsides and at the same time will remove some of the excess ground cover within the cemetery boundaries. We will continue to monitor the grounds and support occasional clearing as we have done in the past to help preserve and protect this abandoned burial ground. We would welcome the opportunity to partner with any interested persons or organizations to ensure additional maintenance of this area in the future, if the opportunity presents itself.

Jeremy Nails

Executive director, Decatur-Morgan County Port Authority

Decatur