Council asks cemetery board to tighten rules, delays ordinance amid title search

Fairfield councilmembers on July 16 discussed a proposed cemetery ordinance and directed the cemetery board to refine standards for decorations, maintenance and governance before the council moves to finalize the ordinance.

Staff reported the cemetery property lies within an historical cemetery district that has not operated as a functioning district; the town must complete a title search to determine how the land was placed in the district and whether the town can remove it. Utah County told staff it is willing to deed two roadway parcels to the town and the county asked the town attorney to prepare deeds for recording.

Councilmembers and cemetery board members said recent meetings about the draft ordinance had become contentious and that residents disagreed about what items should be allowed at gravesites. Topics raised included whether silk flowers should be allowed, how many decorative items or “trinkets” should be permitted, whether permanent decorations drilled into an apron around a headstone should be allowed, whether items should be limited to a fixed area around each grave (examples offered: 6 inches around the headstone, or a 2-by-3-foot zone), rules on solar lights, and whether staff or a contractor should be authorized to remove weathered or unsafe items.

Council members recommended the cemetery board return with a clearer proposal that specified numeric or dimensional limits, the sexton’s duties and an appointment/term schedule for the cemetery board. Staff suggested hiring a landscape/grounds contractor to perform regular mowing and maintenance so that the cemetery board is not responsible for frequent physical upkeep and to reduce conflict over removing items.

Council members also discussed a separate idea to upgrade the cemetery’s appearance with a fence project; the mayor and others said the town budget includes a line item but cautioned the cost estimate could exceed $100,000 and that aesthetics alone might not justify that expense. Several council members favored hiring a grounds contractor and setting clear rules as an immediate step. The council did not adopt the ordinance at the meeting and directed staff and the cemetery board to return with revisions and to complete the title search before proceeding.