Moraine to prepare legislation revising Ellerton Cemetery fee schedule, raising cremation and weekend fees
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Summary
Council voted to have staff prepare a resolution to update the Ellerton Cemetery fee schedule, citing new cemetery management software, rising contractor costs, and the need to keep the cemetery fund solvent; changes include higher cremation fees, set foundation/headstone sizes, and added weekend/holiday surcharges.
Moraine City Council’s Committee of the Whole approved a motion directing staff to draft legislation to revise the fee schedule for Ellerton Cemetery, including increases to cremation burial fees and set charges for weekend and holiday services.
The city planner told council the proposed resolution would repeal Resolution 7880‑22 and replace the existing fee schedule with an updated exhibit. "This update is needed to keep the Ellerton Cemetery Fund healthy as time passes and improvements progress into the future," the city planner said, noting implementation of new cemetery management software that will map plots and move recordkeeping to a cloud‑based system.
The planner said the cemetery is currently breaking even on cremation burials: the city receives $250 under the current resolution while nearby municipalities charge roughly $500. Proposed changes discussed at the meeting include simplifying foundation pricing to a flat rate rather than calculating by area; preserving VA marker pricing as a courtesy to veterans; and adding a $100 surcharge for holidays. The planner described proposed standard maximum sizes: single‑lot headstones 42 inches by 12 inches with 48 by 18‑inch foundations; double‑lot centered headstones 48 by 12 inches with 54 by 18‑inch foundations; and bronze VA markers 24 by 12 inches.
Council asked whether the city currently maintains a nearby privately operated cemetery (described at "Lamb and Screw" near a church). Staff said that cemetery is privately operated, split geographically with Kettering, and is not currently maintained by Moraine; staff said any future municipal takeover would require discussion with the city of Kettering.
A councilmember moved that staff prepare the necessary legislation reflecting the planner’s requested fee schedule revision. The roll call vote was unanimous among members present, and council directed staff to draft the resolution for a future meeting. No fee changes took effect at this meeting; formal adoption will require a future resolution vote.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this article were the city planner who presented the fee update, councilmembers who asked questions, and staff who answered maintenance and jurisdiction questions.