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Commissioners review draft agreement with local funeral home for temporary holding of unclaimed bodies; insurance and fees are sticking points
Summary
Staff presented a draft operational agreement with a county funeral home for temporary care of unidentified or unclaimed bodies; the funeral director requested the county carry insurance coverage tied to private storage and proposed an annual retainer plus per-day storage fees, items the board asked county counsel to review.
County staff presented a draft operational (rental) agreement with a local funeral home to provide temporary holding and care for unidentified or unclaimed bodies. The proposal would make the funeral home an on-call facility for the county when families are not immediately available or investigators need time to identify next of kin.
The county’s presenter said he reviewed the draft with the funeral home director, Tiffany, and had adjusted payment and billing language. He reported that Tiffany requested an insurance arrangement: the funeral home asked that the county pay for a separate insurance policy or otherwise insure the risk of holding bodies at a private facility because the county’s insurance would not cover items housed in a private building.
Staff noted other operational points: the draft allows the funeral home to prioritize its own clients if space is limited; the agreement sets invoice payment to 30 days after termination (the funeral director had asked to extend an original 10-day term), and the director asked for a surcharge on supplies (a vendor-cost-plus percentage). The proposed annual retainer in discussion was roughly $3,500 plus a contracted per-day storage rate (~$153/day under contract) versus higher noncontract holding fees (a $500 figure was discussed for ad hoc drop-offs).
Why it matters: The agreement would give county responders a local option for temporary holding of decedents, which can reduce travel time and administrative delay; commissioners said they want the county attorney to review the access and liability language and to clarify the insurance question before moving forward.
Discussion highlights: Commissioners asked whether other local funeral homes accept county decedents without a signed contract; staff said other area funeral homes said they operate on availability and charged lower nightly rates (one cited ~$85.95). Commissioners also flagged a contract clause that would let the funeral home restrict access to its prep room; staff said the director did not intend to block lawful investigation but wanted to avoid unrestricted public access and that county legal counsel should reword the provision. No contract vote or final approval occurred; staff will return with revised language and legal counsel’s review.
