DJ Bhatt, a Brigham City resident, told city leaders during public comment that the local cemetery is "running out of room" and is "landlocked," warning that without action the community could be forced to maintain two cemeteries.
Bhatt said his family has used the cemetery for 135 years and that he has a professional perspective from delivering headstones for the past 30 years. "I have been in that cemetery, my family and that last name, for 135 years," he said, adding that the city needs to plan now to avoid long-term costs and duplication of services.
The key practical concern Bhatt raised is capacity: he argued the city should pursue options such as widening a nearby road and acquiring adjacent property to create more burial plots rather than allowing a second, separate cemetery. "The problem with our cemetery is we're running out of room. We're landlocked," he said.
Bhatt described the planning process as ongoing. "It will be coming forth once we finalize it, but it's a work in progress," he said, and noted that changing trends such as increased cremation affect how the city might design a solution.
He also raised security issues, saying the cemetery "has never been secure" and recounting past thefts of grave decorations, which he said were later sold online approximately 15 to 18 years ago. Bhatt warned that aesthetic improvements alone do not solve theft or vandalism problems.
Bhatt closed by emphasizing the cemetery's importance to families and the community and urged officials to ensure any plan preserves its appearance and function. He said the site is "sacred" to the mayor's family and called on city leaders to complete a thoughtful expansion plan.
The transcript records these statements as public comment; no formal motion, vote or staff directive was recorded in the provided excerpt.