Ordinance to open more cemetery blocks, set payment deadline

The Worland City Council approved on first reading Ordinance 871 regarding opening blocks at the Riverview Memorial Gardens with rate changes to be considered later.

During the council meeting Oct. 17, the council approved the ordinance to open blocks 81 to 84, which have not previously been opened for purchase from the public.

The blocks will have the same restrictions as Blocks 74 to 80, horizontal or upright family memorials or headstones are available.

In an earlier meeting Public Works Superintendent Nick Kruger said the blocks are the least restrictive in the city-owned cemetery.

Per the ordinance Blocks 86 to 89 remain unavailable for purchase. In the Oct. 3 meeting Kruger had noted that they may use that area to move the city cemetery shop.

The ordinance also requires purchased and reserved graves to be “paid for in full within 30 days after the purchase or reservation. This payment is refundable if at some time the purchase or reservation is canceled.”

City Attorney Kent Richins said this was added because “we’ve had a history of people that want to buy lots, they purchase lots or they reserve lots, and then they don’t actually pay for the lots at a later date. And then we find out there’s burials in the lots and they haven’t been paid for.”

Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz said they try to keep up on the billing of cemetery lots and blocks, adding, “But there have been instances where we had one family years ago that wanted to purchase or reserve like 20 lots. And here three or five years ago, I just finally said I’m not doing this anymore. There’s like 10, or 11 lots that were never paid for. So we took the lots back.”

She said when the issue of a family wanting to purchase a block with nine or 10 lots on it came up (prompting the ordinance to open four additional blocks), she wanted the payment requirement added to the ordinance.

She said “We’ve had people have actually been buried there and still haven’t paid for the full cost of the grave and the opening and close; so we just keep billing them every month. And there’s not a whole lot you can do with them once there’s someone there. So that’s the concern.”

The ordinance passed first reading unanimously. Second reading is scheduled for Nov. 7, third and final reading for Nov. 21 and the ordinance would be enacted on Dec. 1

Glanz said for second reading she would like to look at increasing rates. She said in her 24 years of service with the city rates have only increased one time.

Richins said the rates, however, are set by resolution rather than ordinance and would not require three readings.

Council member William Worley asked Glanz to send the council members the current fees and the proposed fees prior to the next meeting.

Current lot rates are $225 for infants (birth to 12 years), $275 for resident and non-resident infant; $325 for non-resident; $150 resident cremation lot and $200 non-resident cremation lot.

Burial fees for weekdays are $100 infant; $125 for non-resident infant; $250 resident; $280 non-resident; $100 cremations.

After hours/weekend rates are $150 infant; $200 non-resident infant; $350 resident; $395 non-resident; cremations $150.

City holidays are $400 except cremations.

In other business at the Oct. 17 meeting, the council approved moving forward with a survey for the Green Hills Country Club, which would like to donate back a portion of land that is not being used by the club.

Kruger said the current country club lot carries over into some of the greens and part of the driving range. The Country Club would like to give back the extra land that is not part of the club, the parking lot or the landscaped area by the club. This would be a no-cost transfer they only ask for the city to pay for the survey, which was approved by the council motion.