Bonifay mulls redrafted cemetary ordinance

BONIFAY
– The City of BonifayÂ’s cemetery ordinance once again came before the
city council, with the first reading passed unanimously during the
boardÂ’s Oct. 11 regular session.

The
first draft of the ordinance did not meet with public support, which
led Mayor James Eddie Sims to grant the request of the cemetery
committee to complete a rewrite of the measure and bring it back before
the council.

In
the current proposed ordinance, the city maintaining ownership of a lot
only conveys the right of interment and should a lot not be used within
50 years. The council may reclaim unused lots by due process. 

The
ordinance states no coping or any type of decorative bordering or
trimming of any description shall be allowed around any grave or lots in
any section of the cemetery and that any items that may impede
maintenance crews from mowing are prohibited. 

Personal items may be placed on headstones, but benches are prohibited.

The ordinance also calls for rate increases for both residents and non-residents. 

A
plot – two grave sites – previously cost $300 for city residents. The
cost is set to increase to $1,000 should the ordinance be approved after
the final hearing. 

For non-residents, the initial cost for a plot was $600.  That would be increased to $2,000. The ordinance states the plot must be paid for in full before interment can occur.

Councilman Roger Brooks says the ordinance hasn’t changed much from the original draft. 

“The
Cemetery Committee has worked very hard to put this together, and I
think it is well written,” said Brooks. “We drafted up a couple of new
things, but it is basically the same.”

The council is expected to hold the final reading and vote on the issue at their November 8 meeting. 

Bonifay City Council will meet again in regular session at 6 p.m. on October 25.