Title
Resolution to Approve New Fee for Fairview Cemetery
Memorandum
The attached resolution proposes to establish a new fee at Fairview Cemetery to cover administrative costs for the purchase of an additional grave space fee in cases of two cremation interments within the same space, during the same grave opening. It recently came to the Clerk’s Office’s attention that a fee is required for this circumstance, as indicated in the current Fairview Cemetery Rules, but no fee has ever been established.
Resolution No. 18-164 was approved by City Council on May 7, 2018, approving the first fee updates for Fairview Cemetery since 2008. Fairview Cemetery’s fees remain below other public and private cemeteries in Michigan and provide an affordable, public option for the community.
The attached resolution for your consideration and approval proposes the following charge:
New - Additional Grave Space Fee within the Same Space: $75.00
All proceeds from the sale of gravesites are deposited into the City’s Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, which is managed by the City Treasurer as part of the City’s investment pool. The proposed new fee is consistent with other municipal cemeteries and well below the cost of a private cemetery.
The current and proposed fees for interment and disinterment are attached. The proposed fees were determined based upon estimated costs of record keeping and sexton costs, as well as benchmarking with other cemeteries.
Staff requests your approval of the proposed Fairview Cemetery fee schedule.
Staff
Prepared by; Steve Gerhart, Deputy City Clerk
Reviewed by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Reviewed by: John T. Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Ordinance No. 17-11 (Cemeteries) was approved by City Council on July 3, 2017, transferring the management of the City cemetery to the City Clerk;
Whereas, The ordinance allows for the price of lots and other services to be set by Resolution of City Council;
Whereas, The City Clerk’s Office has reviewed the existing fees, sexton costs and made comparisons to other municipal cemeteries; and
Whereas, A public hearing on the proposed fee schedule was held on May 3, 2021;
RESOLVED, That the attached fee scheduled be approved and effective July 1, 2021;
Sale of Lots
Full Grave $750.00 (resident) $1000.00 (non-resident)
Cremation $375.00 (resident) $500.00 (non-resident)
Administrative Fee for Lot Transfer $100.00
Interment
Full Grave - Adult - Mon-Fri $750.00
Full Grave - Adult - Saturday $900.00
Cremation - Mon-Fri $400.00
Cremation - Saturday $650.00
Child/Infant $350.00
Additional Grave Fee with Same Lot $75.00 - NEW
Disinterment
Full Grave $1,000.00
Cremation $500.00
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the City Clerk to take all necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.