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Newman council approves outsourcing option for grave openings, adopts ordinance to allow third-party diggers
Summary
Council directed staff to outsource grave openings and closures and adopted an ordinance amendment to permit third-party cemetery services; staff said keeping burials in-house would require 2–4 additional employees and brought cost figures to the council.
The Newman City Council voted May 13 to authorize staff to pursue outsourcing of grave openings and closures and adopted an ordinance amendment enabling the city to use third-party contractors for cemetery digging.
City staff presented a report noting the cemetery division currently has eight full-time employees and two seasonal workers; staff said that if the city retained in‑house burial operations for a new cemetery area it would likely need two full‑time and up to two seasonal workers. Staff estimated a total compensation package of about $70,550 per full-time employee and noted seasonal hires are difficult to retain.
“Back on March 25, we came to council to ask them some direction,” Mr. Norton said when presenting the report. He described the current contractor cost at Eastview cemetery as about $54,000 per year and said the city budgets roughly $120,000 for burial openings and closings, which affects net savings calculations.
Council members voted to outsource cemetery digging and later adopted the corresponding amendment to the personnel section of the city code (Chapter 7, section 56) to permit use of third‑party contractors for grave diggings. A motion to outsource — based on staff recommendation — was moved and seconded, followed by a voice vote in which the mayor called the question and the motion carried.
Council members also asked staff to return with options for a fee schedule and whether to add an administrative surcharge to cover city costs for contracting, and staff said they would present fee schedule options and a proposed contract award at a future meeting.
The ordinance amendment adopted on the same day enables the city to contract out grave digging if the council decides to proceed with outside services; the ordinance was approved by motion and carried by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will prepare fee-schedule options, a draft contract for outsourced cemetery services, and a recommendation for council consideration at an upcoming meeting.
