Genola staff compares cemetery software options and seeks grant support; council requests more research

Town staff presented options to modernize Genola’s cemetery mapping and records system, showing proposals from three vendors and discussing GPS mapping, QR-code signage for on-site searches, and annual licensing fees.

Lucinda Thomas explained the town’s current system is out-of-date and that Spatial Generations’ older software would only run on outdated Microsoft platforms; she presented comparative quotes and said Chronicle offered a high-resolution mapping approach using drone imagery and an interactive online map. Initial costs cited in the packet included roughly $2,009.76 for one option and higher initial fees for others; recurring annual fees were discussed (e.g., about $900 a year for Chronicle, higher for some alternatives). Staff also reported finding grant opportunities that might offset initial costs and said she would investigate whether grants can reimburse purchases or cover upfront costs.

Councilmembers sought clarification about long-term licensing, the ability to extract and retain town data if the service ends, and whether the vendor can GPS future cemetery phases. Staff committed to further research on grants, vendor references and data portability and to provide additional drawings and headstone-size clarifications to the policy manual before bringing a final purchase recommendation back to council.