Levan council adopts large nonresident fee increase for town cemetery

The Levan Town Council on Thursday adopted a new fee schedule for the Levan Town Cemetery, voting to raise several charges and sharply increase the price for nonresident plots.

The council passed Resolution 07102O25-O1 by roll call, with Council members Chris Chipping, Rachel, Council member Ray and Mayor Bruce Rollie voting yes and Council member Bill Bruff excused. The resolution establishes a revised schedule of charges intended to cover long-term maintenance costs and reduce demand from out-of-area buyers.

The action followed an extended discussion about the town's responsibility for perpetual care of burial plots and concerns that historically low prices had attracted purchasers with no local ties. Christine, a town staff member who presented the proposed schedule, said on the record that the town's current resident plot price is $150 and the current resident open-and-close fee is $200. Under the proposed schedule discussed at the meeting, the council agreed that nonresident plot sales would increase from $600 to $4,000 and that the nonresident open-and-close fee would rise to $1,500. The proposal also set infant burials and cremains services at $250, exhumation at $1,500, and maintained a $300 additional weekend (Saturday) fee.

Why it matters: Council members said the increases aim to ensure the town collects enough funds up front to pay for ongoing mowing, water, equipment and occasional capital needs (for example, future land purchases) so that the cost is not shifted to current Levans taxpayers. Council discussion cited recent increases in local property and land costs and multiple instances of out-of-state buyers purchasing plots because Levan had been comparatively inexpensive.

Discussion highlights and background

Council members and staff reviewed how the cemetery's perpetual-care obligation effectively lasts for the life of the plots, and that current fees had not kept pace with maintenance and utility costs. Christine said the cemetery currently spends about $1,500 per month on mowing alone and noted additional water and equipment costs. The council discussed limits on purchases: the town currently limits residents to eight plots. The resolution also defines a resident for fee purposes as someone whose primary residence has been within Levan's municipal boundary for at least one year, and includes certain health-impaired property owners who temporarily live in care facilities.

Multiple council members urged the town to adopt a written methodology that ties fees to measurable maintenance and replacement costs. A town staff member advised the council that, while legal opinions vary, it is common practice to document how fees were calculated so they can be defended if ever challenged.

What the council decided

- Adopt Resolution 07102O25-O1 establishing the new fee schedule for Levan Town Cemetery (approved by roll call). - Maintain the $300 additional weekend surcharge for Saturday burials. - Keep resident pricing favorable relative to nonresidents; residents retain lower base plot pricing and an eight-plot limit per resident.

Clarifying details available from the meeting

- Current resident plot price cited in meeting: $150 (presented by Christine, town staff). - Current resident open-and-close fee cited in meeting: $200. - Proposed nonresident plot price: $4,000 (up from $600). - Proposed nonresident open-and-close fee: $1,500. - Proposed infant/cremain fee: $250. - Proposed exhumation fee: $1,500. - Weekend (Saturday) surcharge: $300 (unchanged). - Resident definition (as adopted in the discussion): primary residence within municipal boundaries for at least one year, and certain health-impaired property owners temporarily residing in care facilities. - Per-resident plot purchase limit mentioned: 8 plots.

The council voted to adopt the resolution during the meeting; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call (yes: Chris Chipping; Rachel; Ray; Mayor Bruce Rollie; Bill Bruff excused).

Next steps and context

Council members asked staff and legal counsel to document the methodology used to set the fees for inclusion in the town's master fee resolution. Several members said they favored a higher one-time nonresident fee to deter out-of-area buyers from buying low-cost plots and shifting perpetual-care costs to local taxpayers. The new fee schedule takes effect per the language in the adopted resolution (the resolution identifier recorded at the meeting was 07102O25-O1).

Ending

The vote concluded one of the meeting's lengthier agenda items; council members said staff would publish the updated fee schedule in the town newsletter and add the methodology to the master fee resolution documents for transparency.