Potter County adopts rotating body‑transport policy, adds small body‑bag fees

Potter County Commissioners Court on Oct. 13 adopted a policy to rotate body‑transport companies used to move decedents, aiming to limit county payment to cases later determined indigent or when a justice of the peace orders an autopsy.

Jackson, who presented the proposal developed with funeral homes and transport providers, said the rotation would place transport companies on a preapproved list for justices to call and that funeral homes would initially cover transport costs when families choose a nonindigent provider. He told the court the county “would pay for [transport] only if the person was later determined to be indigent” or if an autopsy was ordered.

Funeral‑home and transport representatives spoke in favor of a one‑year trial and described a signed agreement to communicate and rotate assignments. Concerns were raised about licensure and fairness of payments; Jackson said his office reviewed licensing and that the Funeral Services Commission did not require a separate transport license for the services described. Commissioners pressed for assurances that the rotation would treat providers fairly and asked that the changeover align with county shift schedules.

The court added an explicit reimbursement for body‑bag supplies requested during the discussion: $20 per standard body bag and $30 for oversized body bags. Commissioner S2 moved to adopt the rotation policy and include the additional fees; the motion passed 4–1.

The policy is administrative rather than a contract, S9 emphasized, and the court indicated it can revisit or rescind the approach if problems arise during the trial period. Implementation details approved by the court include a two‑week rotation that rolls over Monday at 8 a.m.