City to Re-Evaluate Cemetery Rule

WAITSBURG - In May, Waitsburg's City Council updated the municipal code to allow "only licensed monument companies familiar with the City's requirements" - as opposed to family members or contractors -- to set headstones in City cemeteries. At the July 16 City Council meeting, Waitsburg resident Cindy Hofer appealed to the board to take another look at that decision.

At May's Council meeting, City Clerk Randy Hinchliffe relayed that the city had received occasional requests for family members or contractors to lay headstones and that "we're not comfortable with that." He expressed concern that individuals or contractors may not be aware of proper placement and that the stones would not be laid compliant with cemetery guidelines. The City Council unanimously approved the code amendment allowing only licensed monument companies to set markers.

At this month's meeting, Cindy Hofer read a letter asking the council to either review or provide a conditional waiver regarding the installation of headstones. Hofer shared that after the death of her daughter, she was unable to find a monument that met the design wishes of the family and that costs were prohibitive. Hofer then found an online company that could meet their wishes. She visited a cemetery where the company's headstones had been laid by family members or contract cement workers and was impressed by the quality of work and the uniformity of the installation,.

"Following the purchase of my daughter's headstone, I was informed that the estimate of $30 - $50 for installation only applied if I purchased the significantly more expensive and less desirable - in terms of personalization - stone from our local monument company. I was quoted $500 if I was to purchase a monument elsewhere," she said.

Hofer proposed that Waitsburg citizens have the right to purchase online monuments, within City guidelines, and hire licensed and bonded individuals who will follow the same guidelines as the local monument company. Hofer offered to agree in writing that the work will meet or exceed current cemetery guidelines and, if requested, the work could be supervised by City staff.

Hofer said that because of the "monopoly in the area" many families can't afford headstones and go without and that the headstone she purchased was three to four times as much locally. She has selected a licensed and bonded Waitsburg resident with ten years concrete experience, who will charge $50 for installation rather than the $500 required by the monument company.

Hinchliffe said that historically, monument companies have always set the stones in the City cemetery so this hasn't been an issue until recently. Hofer said she believes that ordering monuments online will become more of a trend, especially in rural communities. She also mentioned another parent who would like her child's ashes interred in the Waitsburg cemetery, but has found the cost to do so prohibitive.

Mayor Gobel asked Hinchliffe to see how nearby counties handle similar situations and requested that the ordinance discussion be added to the agenda of the August 20 council meeting.