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Wellsville council weighs cemetery rules, prices and monument placement as lots near capacity
Summary
Councilors and city staff discussed cemetery capacity estimates, monument placement problems, possible pricing changes for nonresidents, and requirements for monument installation and maintenance. Staff said the new section is mostly sold and recommended code updates and a committee to oversee placement and standards.
Wellsville City Council members and city staff spent substantial time on July 2 reviewing cemetery operations, including capacity, monument placement standards and enforcement, pricing for nonresidents, and potential changes to rules for urn placements.
City staff said the newest section of the cemetery is largely sold; one official estimated lots were "more like 85% full" (sold, if not occupied) and said the city has not conducted a formal study of long-term capacity. Councilors and staff raised concerns about monument companies placing headstones incorrectly and discussed options to require companies to check in at the city office before installation or to have a city representative on site during placement.
Staff suggested several potential code changes: requiring a specified base and placement standard for monuments, narrower maximum monument sizes so public-works equipment can safely move stones, mandatory monument-company presence at installation or a fine to cover city labor to correct placement errors, and consideration of flat (flush) headstones in new sections to ease maintenance. One city official also proposed forming a volunteer committee of long-time residents to assist with placement oversight.
Councilors discussed pricing and access: staff recommended reviewing nonresident lot pricing and possibly charging more for weekend burials to compensate public-works employees called in outside normal hours. The council said any change should be considered before selling lots in the new section.
Other items discussed included whether to add a columbarium or dedicated urn section; staff said ashes can be interred above vaults now but no dedicated urn wall has been created. No formal ordinance changes or price adjustments were adopted at the meeting; councilors asked staff to prepare code revisions and options for council consideration.
Ending: Staff will draft proposed code revisions and pricing options for future council action; councilors expressed interest in promptly addressing monument placement, capacity tracking and nonresident pricing before additional lots are sold.
