Cemetery revenues above last year; expansion work and servicemen’s columbarium advancing
October 17, 2025 | Mitchell, Davison County, South Dakota
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Board members reviewed cemetery bills and financial reports and were told cemetery revenue is running ahead of last year while expense lines have largely remained within budget.
Board discussion identified specific bill items: a front‑of‑building garage‑door installation was listed at about $5,590 on one page of the cemetery bills. Staff said the west side concreting of the shop is planned for next year and that capital items such as an office remodel and other improvements date to the building’s original construction in 1987.
Revenue and expenses: staff said openings (interments) are up and that sales of gravesites have accounted for a substantial portion of the revenue gain; staff also noted some of those sales were for other organizations (for example, Calvary Cemetery). A professional‑services charge originally discussed as $22,000 was clarified in the meeting as $19,000 and flagged as capital rather than operating expense.
Expansion and columbarium: staff reported that cemetery expansion planning is in progress. The servicemen’s cemetery is scheduled to install a columbarium in November; the servicemen’s board completed concrete work earlier in the year and plans to transfer the new installation to the city after construction. Staff said the parcel involved has either been annexed or is undergoing annexation; survey adjustments were discussed and a resurvey may be required because county property lines extend into roadway areas and asphalt pavement where initial survey points were placed. The bathroom project at the cemetery is moving forward but a final construction date was not set.
Other maintenance: staff reported routine tree marking and removals and ongoing grounds maintenance. Calvary Cemetery was reported to be performing its own cement projects on its property (not city projects).
Next steps: board approved the financial reports for September (see "Votes at a glance"), and staff said they will continue budget tracking and follow up on expansion survey and annexation details to establish a firm construction schedule for the columbarium and bathroom.
Board discussion identified specific bill items: a front‑of‑building garage‑door installation was listed at about $5,590 on one page of the cemetery bills. Staff said the west side concreting of the shop is planned for next year and that capital items such as an office remodel and other improvements date to the building’s original construction in 1987.
Revenue and expenses: staff said openings (interments) are up and that sales of gravesites have accounted for a substantial portion of the revenue gain; staff also noted some of those sales were for other organizations (for example, Calvary Cemetery). A professional‑services charge originally discussed as $22,000 was clarified in the meeting as $19,000 and flagged as capital rather than operating expense.
Expansion and columbarium: staff reported that cemetery expansion planning is in progress. The servicemen’s cemetery is scheduled to install a columbarium in November; the servicemen’s board completed concrete work earlier in the year and plans to transfer the new installation to the city after construction. Staff said the parcel involved has either been annexed or is undergoing annexation; survey adjustments were discussed and a resurvey may be required because county property lines extend into roadway areas and asphalt pavement where initial survey points were placed. The bathroom project at the cemetery is moving forward but a final construction date was not set.
Other maintenance: staff reported routine tree marking and removals and ongoing grounds maintenance. Calvary Cemetery was reported to be performing its own cement projects on its property (not city projects).
Next steps: board approved the financial reports for September (see "Votes at a glance"), and staff said they will continue budget tracking and follow up on expansion survey and annexation details to establish a firm construction schedule for the columbarium and bathroom.
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