Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Chaska could soon see a few improvements, thanks in part to a local resident’s desire to kick-start a needed restoration effort.

Dave Rieke, Chaska, approached the Chaska City Council at its Jan. 5 meeting to discuss his proposal.

Rieke said he and his wife, Janet, have walked through the cemetery near Fireman’s Park on several occasions and taken photos of things that need fixing.

“We’ve noticed there are certain things that need attention — gravestones, trees and other issues,” he told the council.

A retired farmer from Fairfax, Minnesota, Rieke has worked with three rural cemeteries in the past and has led fundraising efforts for various improvements. He said he’d like to do the same thing for Mount Pleasant.

Rieke said he and his wife would pledge $5,000 in matching grant funds to launch the effort, if the city agrees to pursue restoration plans.

“We hope to get funds from various organizations — no city dollars,” he said. “It just takes some type of spark to get things rolling. That’s what we’re here for.”

Council Member McKayla Hatfield said she spent several days this past summer cleaning her dad’s gravestone in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. She indicated she supports any effort to improve the facility.

“It’s where a lot of the founders of Chaska are buried,” she said. “Cemeteries are often overlooked things that people just drive by and don’t give it a lot of thought.”

Mayor Taylor Hubbard thanked the Riekes for leading the charge to upgrade the cemetery. Hubbard noted that she visited Mount Pleasant as part of annual Memorial Day ceremonies in 2025 and recognized the need for restoration.

“You’re right, it’s in tough shape,” she told Rieke. “But it’s a very important space.”

City Administrator Matt Podhradsky suggested that he and Rieke sit down over coffee in the near future to discuss the proposed project.

Opportunities to donate to the restoration effort will be publicized later when plans are developed and the city approves the Mount Pleasant project.