Holbrook Councilman Richard Peterson introduced discussion on the rates, rules and regulations of the Holbrook Cemetery at the Sept. 26 council meeting, a topic that drew several area residents to attend.
The councilman noted that about three and a half years ago the city changed the ordinance pertaining to cemetery fees, in part due to the number of people from outside of the area who were purchasing gravesites because of the lower cost in Holbrook. As a result, the fees for people outside of the city limits were increased, with rates for residents set at $375 and for non-residents, at $3,000. The cost of a resident child urn or gravesite was set at $100 to $175, depending upon the size, and at $600 to $1,050 for non-resident children.
“I was approached by people interested in this issue and want this to be a discussion,” Peterson said. “Would it be reasonable, the question is legal, to include the traditional Holbrook community that extends well past our city limits…. and if so, where should that line be put?” he asked.
Mayor Bobby Tyler stated that issue was brought up at the first of the year by a family wanting their mother to be buried here. There were no concessions made to lower the cost for the former resident and he wanted to know, if changes were made, how people who were told no earlier would be dealt with.
Peterson replied that those who were told no were told so because the ordinance stated so. “I’m not talking about making anything retroactive or refund money, if that’s what you’re saying,” said Peterson.
He then asked about the perpetual care account, in which $25 to $75 of the grave or urn fee is placed in a separate account for maintenance of the cemetery.
City Manager Randy Sullivan explained that the funds in the perpetual care account are so few that it does not cover the cost of maintenance, so it goes in the general fund. He said they could create a fund where all cemetery revenues would go. “Right now it’s all part of the city park maintenance system,” he added.
“If we have a fund it would help to determine the actual costs of running the cemetery. We could then set fees that would make it self-funding. Right now we’re just paying it out of the general fund so we don’t know exactly what the cemetery costs us,” suggested Peterson.
Councilman Earl Kester said he felt all residents with a Holbrook zip code should be considered within Holbrook boundaries.
Councilwoman Francie Payne stated that in her opinion, since Joseph City and Woodruff have their own cemeteries, including the areas in between those towns may be a good method of determining boundaries for Holbrook, which could include Sun Valley and Perkins Valley. “I would think that would be a good way to look at that,” she said.
Regarding the remaining space availability, Sullivan said the city is currently working on extending the cemetery to the east, adding what he believes would be another 10 years of space.
Councilman Peterson also wanted the council to consider having controls on the purchase of cemetery plots, so that they would not be resold to someone out of town.
Sullivan said that the city has not had that happen in the past.
Peterson noted that a wooden casket was not allowed and that a vault is required, and he hoped that an area could be designated as a “paupers” section for those who could not afford those additional costs.
City Clerk Cher Reyes noted that the reason for the vault requirement is the high water table in the area of the cemetery.
Peterson concluded that he would like to look at the rules and regulations to see if they need to be revised or rewritten.
The councilman also noted he would like contact made with former residents who purchased plots in the past, but who no longer live in Holbrook, to see if they still want their grave site or if they would like to sell it back to the city. In addition he wanted to address the restriction of no above ground monuments.
“I would like to spend some time on this over the next few weeks, look it over and talk to people in town,” Peterson said, suggesting they review the matter in the second meeting in October and make decisions on it in one of the November meetings.
The council agreed to address the matter in the manner Peterson suggested.
Prior to the discussion, Chantelle Taylor addressed the council on the issue as part of the call to the public, saying, “We do live on McLaws Road, out of city limits, so this will impact us and we thought at first this is a no brainer, this sounds really unreasonable and unfair, because Holbrook is our community, we live here and consider it our home. We should have the same price as people who live in town.”
However, she said she and her husband thought of it from a government perspective and realized that they benefit from the city’s services, like roads and police officers, while the taxes they pay do not go to the city, but to the county.
Councilman C.J. Wischmann noted later in the meeting that there is no city property tax.
Twyla Taylor and her husband Rick also came forward, noting that they love Holbrook and have lived there for 40 years. She explained that they live a mile out of the city limits and suggested perhaps a five percent increase for those living just outside city limits and higher costs for those who live out of state.
David Wright spoke on behalf of his in-laws, the Luna family, who he said have lived in Holbrook since 1972 and currently live approximately a mile out of the city limits. He asked for consideration to people in that area, as their children have attended Holbrook High School and the post office recognizes that area as within Holbrook.
