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Commission approves $78,300 contract to digitize Oakwood Cemetery burial records
Summary
The commission waived competitive bidding and authorized a contract not to exceed $78,300 with Whiteman for digitization, integration and mapping of Oakwood Cemetery records, to be paid from the Oakwood Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund.
The Traverse City Commission approved a professional services contract with Whiteman for up to $78,300 to digitize and map burial records at Oakwood Cemetery.
Commissioner Werner pulled the consent item for discussion, citing the price tag. “$78,000. … I get it making this a 21st‑century, searchable database,” Werner said, but he expressed concern about competing budget priorities. Other commissioners noted the funding source is the cemetery’s perpetual care fund and not general fund dollars. Commissioner Shaw said the project preserves historical records and is timely given possible future changes to the cemetery.
The motion to waive competitive bidding and authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute the contract passed on a roll‑call vote. The roll call recorded Commissioner Anderson, Commissioner Shaw and Commissioner Treadwell voting yes; Commissioner Werner voting no; Mayor Pro Tem Wilson and Mayor Shamro voting yes. The contract will be subject to final form review by the city attorney and to substantive approval by the city manager; funds will be drawn from the Oakwood Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund (Fund 151).
Why it matters: Officials said digitized, searchable records would make the cemetery’s historical interment data more accessible and help with perpetual care management and any future cemetery planning efforts.
