KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Four Kirksville buildings and a local cemetery are now designated local historic landmarks.

The Kirksville Historic Preservation Commission decided the designations, which are the first in the city.

Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery is one of the local landmarks recognized Wednesday.

Members presented a plaque to Mayor Richard Detweiler. By default, the City of Kirksville owns and cares for that cemetery.

The other property owners also received plaques, which will be put up at a later date.     

The chairman of the commission told KTVO properties have to meet several guidelines before being named a local historic landmark.

"First, the owner of the property would have to nominate the property to the commission, and at that point, we would review it and give our approval or disapproval, and then at that point, it would go up through the chain of command and up through the Planning and Zoning (Commission) and on to the commission," said Ken Shook.

These are the four Kirksville buildings designated local historic landmarks: the McGovern House, owned by Stephen and Cynthia Willcox, at 415 E. Washington St.; Pickler's Famous, owned by Todd and Bich Kuhns, located on the north side of the Kirksville square; the Spencer/Selby House, owned by Dr. Henry Wisdom, at 316 N. Franklin St.; the Grim Building, owned by Bob Giovannini, located at 113 E. Washington St.

Shook said the commission hopes to make the historic landmark designations an annual event, but that depends on nominations from property owners.