Bardstown council votes to hike prices for digging graves, cemetery plots
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
The cost for being buried in the Bardstown Cemetery will be increasing soon after Tuesday’s action by the Bardstown City Council.
Acting on a recommendation from its cemetery committee, the council held first reading on on ordinance that will raise the price of burial plots and hike the cost of opening and closing a grave.
Councilman Francis Lydian reviews a long-term planning report during Tuesday's council meeting. Click to enlarge.
Burial plots in the cemetery will increase by $100. Plots in the front part of the cemetery along North Third Street will now cost $500, while plots in the rear portion will cost $450.
The cost to open and close a grave will increase 60 percent – from $250 to $400.
The city last hiked the rates for burial plots and grave openings and closings in 2008.
Cemetery committee chairman Bobby Simpson said the rates are still below surrounding areas and are comparable with those for plots and services in adjoining St. Joseph Cemetery.
The costs have increased to open and close a grave, Simpson said. Digging graves and providing burial services in the recent wet weather creates leaves muddy ruts in the cemetery, and there are costs associated with fixing that damage.“It’s not just the digging of the grave.”
The cost of a burial plot for an infant or urn will triple – from $50 to $150. The cost opening and closing for an urn or infant grave will increase by $50 to $150.
Simpson said the cemetery is fine in regard to burial space, but suggested a long-term plan is needed. “There are areas we’ve looked at, but nobody wants a cemetery by their house,” he said.
Councilman Roland Williams listens as Councilman Fred Hagan explains the goals of long-term planning.
Mayor Bill Sheckles said the city cemetery rates will still be lower than other cemeteries in the area.
The council unanimously approved first reading of the ordinance. As second reading and publication of the ordinance will be required before the rate hikes become effective.
REAPPOINTMENTS. The council approved reappointing Terry Geoghegan to a four-year term on the Bardstown-Nelson County Air Board, and reappointing Crystal Brady to a four-year term on the Joint City-County Planning Commission.
Councilman Tommy Reed cast a “no” vote on Brady’s appointment, explaining after the meeting that he voted against her appointment a year ago because he didn’t agree with the idea of putting someone in the job without experience. Brady, a candidate for city council in 2010, was appointed to fill Fred Hagan’s seat after Hagan won a city council seat.
“I felt like Crystal at the time had no experience,” he said. “This is a very important job, and I would like to see someone who has been involved in development in that position.” He added that he voted no a year ago, and he was being consistent by voting no again.
In other business the council:
– Heard Police Chief Rick McCubbin give kudos to department detectives for helping clear more than 20 burglaries. Most of the victims received part or all of their property back;
– Received an update from Hagan on the progress of the long-term planning for the city water and wasterwater departments;
– Heard from interim Bardstown Fire Chief Marlin Howard on recent fire department activities;
– Approved minutes from the Jan. 24 meeting and the Jan. 26 special meeting;
– Voted to approve several cemetery deeds.
The council meets next at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2012.
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