Snyderville Basin Cemetery District faces local opposition; board agrees to working group, outreach and procurement steps

The Snyderville Basin Cemetery District discussed strong public opposition to a proposed 10‑acre cemetery site and a March 19 letter from Basin Recreation proposing an alternative location, and agreed to form a working group, step up public outreach and prepare procurement actions for marketing and accounting support.

Board members said about 15–20 people spoke at a recent public meeting and that most submitted comments opposed either the idea of a cemetery at the recommended location or the specific site selected. Basin Recreation representatives urged renewed, transparent engagement and said the March 19 letter suggested shifting the ten‑acre parcel closer to the roundabout near Olympic Parkway to avoid sagebrush hillsides and primary drainage areas. District members and counsel discussed an amendment to deed restrictions that would permit a one‑time subdivision strictly to create a public cemetery parcel; attorneys advised the amendment can be narrowly drafted and conditioned, and that subdivision requirements will also apply at platting.

The board and Basin Recreation representatives disagreed about whether Basin Rec received adequate notice before the district moved on deed‑restriction amendments; Basin Rec called the letter “old news” in the meeting and urged restarting public engagement. District members said they have reviewed roughly 20 possible sites and that private purchases are not feasible within the district’s current budget.

District members and counsel discussed limits on what the deed‑restriction amendment could accomplish and the risk that a broad amendment could enable future, unintended uses. Counsel explained the proposed amendment is drafted narrowly to allow only a one‑time subdivision for a public cemetery and to avoid opening the property to other uses without additional approvals.

The board directed staff to set up a working group with Basin Recreation and to hold additional public engagement before a final public hearing; a public meeting date of June 3 was discussed as a tentative option. The district also agreed to prepare procurement materials for a marketing contract and accounting services, and to pursue options for temporary staffing (including interns or short‑term contractors) to help produce design visuals, websites, and outreach materials. Board members noted the district’s limited administrative capacity — the account balance was reported at $99 — and that staffing and vendor contracts will be subject to procurement policy review.

Procedural actions taken during the meeting included approval of draft minutes from the May 7 meeting and a motion to adjourn. Several next steps were identified: forming a work group to seek a mutually acceptable site, preparing an RFP for marketing and outreach collateral, considering an RFP or contract for accounting services or county support, and finalizing procurement policies at an upcoming meeting.

Why it matters: the choice of site and the process for approval will determine how the cemetery integrates with trails, parking and recreation in the Kimball Junction/Snyderville Basin area and will shape outreach, funding needs and legal steps required before any land transfer or cemetery construction can proceed.