COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater City Council approved a new fee schedule for Oak Grove Cemetery on Monday night that would take effect on April 1, 2023.
There would be several increases after the last review and fee change for cemetery services took place in 2016.
City Clerk Susan Heath said in her memo to the Council that recent City Staff review has determined that City fees for services are in many cases significantly lower than other cemeteries in neighboring communities.
Coldwater Department of Municipal Services Director Todd Mistor said costs for operating the cemetery have gone up.
Interments for adults would increase by $100 to $500. The fees for interment of babies as well as for ashes would also go up by $100 to $300.
Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker said this was the first step in looking at a revision to the overall cemetery rules and procedures.
Mistor said they average between 80 to 90 burials a year. Heath added the staff determined interment for a child grave and an adult grave are essentially the same work and cost so they suggested removal of the separate child interment rate from the fee schedule.
Disinter and Reinter rates have changed since the City no longer have the heavy equipment necessary to perform this task.
New rates reflect the portion done by the City, plus the prevailing cost of a contractor fee to complete the job.
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