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The Taylor Town Council voted unanimously in favor of opening the newest section of the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery and changing two rules within the town’s cemetery code to make all three sections of the cemetery more user-friendly at the special meeting on Feb. 12.
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Town Manager Gus Lundberg shared that over the last couple of years the town staff has added three more rows to the cemetery on the south side and it is now ready to be opened. “I am proud of the work our crew has done in the cemetery,” said Lundberg. “I think it looks exceptional and we have spent less than $40,000 to do everything including the irrigation.”
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Public Works Director Jeremy Peters said that the new section has 1,280 plots that are 10 feet by 4 feet to more easily accommodate the headstones and grave monuments.
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The plots in the new section will remain at the $600 price, which includes perpetual care by the town. Lundberg also noted that the ability to stack two caskets in one plot will be available in the new section. Due to the cost of the metal plate used on top of the first casket, the cost is currently $725, which includes the plot price plus the $125 for the metal plate, which can change in price.
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Councilman Jason Brubaker proposed the idea of requiring burial vaults in the newest section to limit damage to caskets from weather, time and even digging a nearby grave. “Lakeside, Show Low and Snowflake all require burial vaults,” said Brubaker. “Our graves are settled by moisture and even a piece of equipment driving over the grave site can break a casket.”
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The council would not entertain a motion for the burial vaults, primarily due to the cost of $700 per vault. Vice Mayor Carl Cosper said, “I don’t know how we can make a burial vault a requirement. Let it be the people’s choice.”
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Councilman Shawn Palmer echoed Cosper’s words, when he suggested that the idea of a burial vault should be left with the funeral home.
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In the end, the council voted to open the newest section of three rows at the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery, to extend the height requirement of monuments to a maximum height of 48 inches for all monuments and to remove the existing rule of no headstone prior to burial in all areas of the cemetery.
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Immediately, after that motion passed, Lundberg brought a request for $90,000 to purchase a new mini excavator to the council as a way to help in opening graves and moving headstones in the future.
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The $90,000 will be divided between four departments: Parks, Streets, Water and Sewer, with each funding $22,500. “This way we can buy it straight out without having to finance it,” said Lundberg. The council voted unanimously to approve the request.
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The public hearing for adoption of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-2019 final budget was held with no comment from the public. Lundberg shared that in July of 2018, the council had adopted a tentative budget nearly $9.4 million and while changes can be made within that amount, there can be no increase in spending. “We are halfway through the budget and there have been no significant changes,” said Lundberg. The council unanimously approved the adoption of the final budget.
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The financial audit for FY 2017-2018 was completed. Lundberg said the auditors did due diligence on reviewing the number and interviewing the staff. “It was a clean audit and the number are fair and accurate.”
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Lundberg did note that the town’s two percent sales tax collection did increase by 16 percent largely due to retail sales. “We did bring in more money than anticipated in 2018, which gave us a net gain of $183,962.”
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Mayor David Smith asked if the $30 increase of the vehicle registration fee had brought additional revenue. Lundberg said since the state did not sweep that fee to pay for the Department of Public Safety, the town saw an increase of nearly $50,000 from that, which goes the town’s street fund along with Highway User Revenue Fund monies.
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The council unanimously accepted the financial audit.
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In other business, the council:
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* Heard a presentation on the outsourcing of dispatching services with the City of Show Low.
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* Tabled consideration of the resolution authorizing the town to enter into joinder agreement with the Arizona Public Safety Retirement System.
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* Went into executive session concerning police chief appointment, with no action taken upon leaving executive session.
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