UPDATE: Gates remain locked at Elkhart cemetery due to erosion problems

ELKHART, Ind. -- An Elkhart cemetery is getting some much needed repairs.

Work started on Tuesday at the Grace Lawn Cemetery.

Mayor Dick Moore told ABC 57 that the city would start work on the worst areas as soon as possible.

On Sunday, we were the only local TV station on-hand when the mayor officially closed the cemetery and crews locked up the gates.

Now, crews are out at the cemetery dumping dirt. Some back-filling operations are underway to help fix the erosion problem.

Crews got started on step one of the repairs on Tuesday.

“We did a preliminary back-filling operation, started near the top of the bank just to stabilize the top of the bank a little bit more,” said Elkhart City Engineer, Mike Machlan.

Moore initially closed the cemetery on Sunday night because of one severe area of erosion.

“That’s the area we addressed," said Machlan. "I will be talking to [Mayor Moore] later today about that, I’m not sure what his decision will be.”

But as of Tuesday evening, the gates were still locked.

“We’ve been monitoring it for about 6 months and the top of the bank hasn’t moved in that time, but we understand that the public is a bit nervous about it," said Machlan.

Until the Mayor lifts the closure, the gates will remain locked. Meanwhile, the city engineers will keep working on the repairs.

“Today at the board works meeting, plans and specifications were approved and we’ll be issuing those this week for quotes to do the work.”

Machlan said once the city finds a contractor for the rebuild, the construction should get started in about two to three weeks.