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Council removes directional-burial rule from city cemetery code
Summary
The council voted to delete a provision that specified burial orientation in the city cemetery code, allowing final layout decisions to be set by plat approval and the cemetery board. Supporters said the change preserves flexibility; one resident noted existing graves already face differing directions.
The Clinton mayor and city council voted to amend the city cemetery code to remove a provision that specified the compass direction for graves, the council said during a public hearing. City Manager (S2) told the council the change would let the plat and the cemetery board determine layout rather than locking orientation into the ordinance.
The manager said the amendment restores flexibility: "Eliminating this part of it and adopting as is would allow the cemetery board and ultimately the council to adopt an approval layout plan," the manager explained, adding that the move is intended to keep options open when plats are approved. A resident (S7) responded that many graves already face different directions and questioned the practical effect of the prior requirement.
Council members discussed the amendment's origin, noting the advisory committee had returned to an older 2019 vision for the ordinance. After questions from the council and clarification from staff, a motion to delete the directional provision was made and approved on voice vote.
The amendment does not change other requirements in the cemetery code; staff said the remaining ordinance provisions and plat-review processes will govern layout going forward. The council closed the public hearing and adopted the amendment, with the manager and council stating the change would avoid tying the city’s hands on future plot layouts.
