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Council approves contract award and new fee schedule for burial openings and closings amid debate over rounding fees
Summary
Council approved awarding the contract for burial openings and closings and adopted an amended fee schedule that adds a 15% administrative fee; council debated rounding conventions for fees and affordability concerns before approving both motions 6–1.
Newman City Council on May 20 approved a contract award for burial opening and closings and adopted an amended cemetery fee schedule that includes a 15% administrative fee.
City staff presented the recommended contract award and a proposed fee schedule that added a 15% administration charge intended to cover staff time spent verifying gravesite locations and coordinating services. Staff said the administrative fee compensates for city personnel time spent onsite certifying and verifying that contracted burial work is performed correctly.
Council debate centered on whether to round the fees to simpler figures. One councilmember urged “rounding it up” to whole or tens values to simplify billing and reduce penny-level amounts; other members said the proposed 15% administrative fee is reasonable given staff oversight and that the fee schedule should stand as presented. One councilmember said they would vote against the change because of concerns about cost for families.
The motion to approve the fee schedule as presented carried 6–1. The council then approved the contract award to the recommended vendor by the same margin. Staff said the city will collect the administrative fee as part of the updated schedule and the awarded contractor will perform opening and closing services under the contract terms.
