Commission approves sale rates for new cemetery plots, defers slab language and perpetual‑care detail

The Dade City Commission adopted Resolution 2025-05 by a 5-0 roll-call vote to enable sale of additional cemetery plots in a newly cleared and surveyed parcel, updating the fee schedule in the ordinance exhibit so staff can sell plots and record deeds.

City Clerk Miss Guy and staff explained that all platted spaces in the cemetery’s third edition had been depleted and that the city cleared and surveyed additional property to permit new sales. Staff said the resolution’s primary purpose is to update fees and allow staff to report deeds for proof of ownership.

During public comment and commission discussion residents and commissioners raised concerns about historic sections of the cemetery and whether full granite slabs would be permitted in the new section. Commissioner Schaffner referenced language in Exhibit A (page 8) that appeared to prohibit “grave slab[s]” in the third edition; staff and the commission agreed the immediate action before them concerned fees only and that committee review was appropriate for the slab question and other decoration rules.

Commissioners also discussed establishing a perpetual‑care or perpetual‑fund fee in addition to sale and marker fees. Staff said other municipalities use a range of approaches — flat fees (for example $25), percentage calculations (for example 10%) or size-based amounts — and requested direction to research options. The commission voted to approve fees items 1 through 4 while excluding item 2(c) (the slab language) and directed staff to return with recommendations on perpetual‑care funding and to consult the cemetery committee on decoration and historic‑section consistency.

Roll-call voting recorded aye votes from Mayor Pro Tem Woodard, Mayor Black, Commissioner Shive, Commissioner Church and Commissioner Cosentino. The motion carried 5-0.