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Bluff reviews draft cemetery ordinance, aims to form Cemetery Board by mid‑November
Summary
Councilors reviewed a draft Cemetery Ordinance and associated forms, discussed enforcement challenges and definitions for cremation lots, and set a goal to form a Cemetery Board by mid‑November so ordinance, forms and board are in place before the mayor’s term ends in January 2026.
The Bluff Town Council reviewed a draft Cemetery Ordinance and related operation forms at its Aug. 12 work session and set a target of mid‑November to have a Cemetery Board appointed and paperwork in place.
Town Manager Erin Nelson told the council the draft ordinance had been shared with Attorney Chris McAnany but the attorney was asked to wait for council review before completing legal edits. Council members discussed enforcement challenges—such as setting enforceable visiting hours and prohibiting camping—and debated how to define a cremation lot, noting the draft’s example of a concrete wall with drawers to store ashes would increase burial density.
Staff said that once a digitalization bid for cemetery records is awarded, a resolution will be prepared and sent to San Juan County. The minutes note the council discussed land‑deed conveyance from the Southwest Heritage Foundation, with Bill Davis listed as a primary contact in that potential conveyance.
Council members also discussed creating a Cemetery Board, including how to advertise openings and how many members to appoint. Given Mayor Ann K. Leppanen’s term expiry in January 2026, the council expressed a goal of completing ordinance review, forms and board appointments by mid‑November to ensure continuity.
No final ordinance vote was taken at the work session; next steps are for the council to finalize the draft, send it to the town attorney for review, advertise for board members and return the item to a future meeting for formal action.
(Reporting note: the meeting minutes report that San Juan County cemetery-related reports and a county ordinance were discussed as not being in existence or not having had reports submitted; the minutes do not attribute that statement to a single speaker.)
