The Snowflake Town Council approved an increase in rates for burial and perpetual care of graves at the town cemetery last week.
“It’s been quite a while since we have increased the rates of the cemetery,” said Recreation and Parks Department Director Don Camacho at the Aug. 25 meeting.
Camacho said he felt that with the increase of the west addition there are increased costs to the town, and noted that in July the Town of Taylor raised its rates. “So to kind of go along with them,” Snowflake should raise its rates, he suggested.
The fee schedule presented to the council was in line with Taylor’s cemetery fees with the exception of cremated remains, Camacho explained, noting that Taylor charges the same for interring cremated remains as it does for a casket burial. Snowflake’s current fee for cremated remains is $50, which would increase to $60. Opening and closing fees would be the same for both towns.
Mayor Tom Poscharsky asked when the last increase was approved.
Camacho replied that he wasn’t sure, but it was more than a decade ago.
Poscharsky asked if the policy would be the same regarding the town reimbursing for graves that were not used.
Camacho explained that the town will reimburse what the plot owner paid if he or she asks to turn the plot back to the town, but he noted that generally it would go to another family member.
“We want to be the same as Taylor, except for cremation,” Town Manager Brian Richards replied when the mayor asked his feelings on the fee increases.
Councilman Cory Johnson questioned the high cost for non-resident graves and perpetual care, which will be $2,500 on the new fee schedule.
Camacho explained that because the cost is still very low, they want to avoid non-residents purchasing a plot simply because of the low cost. He went on to explain that the term “resident” is pretty loose.
The single grave rate would increase from $100 to $200, while the perpetual care rate would increase from $300 to $400 and would be charged at the time of burial. Opening and closing would increase from $150 to $200, and for weekends or holidays, from $200 to $300. Interring cremated remains would increase from $50 to $75 for a new or existing grave.
A motion to increase rates as presented was approved, effective Sept. 1.
In other business, Ron Smith and Dany Seymore, owners of a parcel directly west of the intersection of Plum Blossom Lane and Peach Blossom Lane in the West Gardens area in Snowflake, requested the rezoning of that property.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Dale Call explained that previously they had the property rezoned from R-1A (Residential 1 acre lots) to R8 with the intent of putting in a high density subdivision. This request was to revert back to the original R-1A zoning. Call noted that this zoning is more in line with the other uses in that area.
The council held the first reading of Ordinance 15-10 to rezone a property from Residential 8,000 ft. lots (R8) to Residential 1 acre (R-1A) lots.
The council tabled action on Ordinance 15-09 authorizing a property exchange between Decker Ranches and Development and the town, with no reason given.
