Commission approves burial of 19 unclaimed cremains, establishes county-owned cemetery on hospital property

The Claiborne County Commission on Oct. 16 unanimously approved Resolution 2023-099 to dispose of 19 sets of unclaimed cremated remains and to establish a county-owned cemetery on land owned by Claiborne County Hospital identified as Parcel 96A-A-4.02 (the Helicopter Landing Pad property).

The resolution directs the county mayor to publish the names and dates of death, if known, in the Claiborne Progress for four consecutive weeks and authorizes the mayor to release cremains at no cost to any person authorized under Tennessee law to claim them. The Buildings and Grounds and Personnel Committee was directed to identify a suitable cemetery site on the identified parcel and the county attorney was authorized to obtain any necessary permissions to bury unclaimed remains. Records of burials are to be maintained by the county mayor or a designee.

Commissioner David Mundy moved the resolution; Commissioner Steve Mason seconded. The roll-call vote was 20 in favor, 0 opposed.

The resolution cites Section 38-5-118 of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning disposition of human remains and directs compliance with applicable claim procedures. It also references the statutory authority for authorized claimants. The text limits burials in the new cemetery to unclaimed cremated human remains delivered to a public official for disposition at public expense.

Next steps specified in the resolution include the publication of the required notice by the county mayor and establishment of the cemetery by the Buildings and Grounds and Personnel Committee. The resolution states it takes effect upon passage.