February 22, 2024 |
Photo – Elk Mountain Cemetery Board’s Bylaws – Courtesy Town of Elk Mountain
The Elk Mountain Cemetery Board has finalized its rules governing future burials.
During the February 12th Elk Mountain town council meeting, the cemetery board’s recommended bylaw changes were approved unanimously. Brett Larson, the Cemetery Board Chairman, said the changes were necessary to avoid future problems at the graveyard.
In November of 2022, after over a decade of not having a cemetery oversight committee, four Elk Mountain residents, including Brett Larson reestablished the town’s cemetery board. The first task of the newly reformed board was to perform a detailed survey of the graveyard.
In March of last year, the Elk Mountain Cemetery Board hired Dave Hammond, of Hammond Land Survey in Laramie, to map the 300 plus graves in the cemetery. Cemetery Board Chairman Larson said a new survey was needed to clear up years of confusion.
To avoid repeating the past problems, Larson said the cemetery board has changed its bylaws. All plot purchases must now be made at the town hall. Larson said the process ensures that all grave sales are properly listed in the county and town records.
After completing the survey, 185 additional graves were added to the town’s cemetery. The Elk Mountain Cemetery Board also raised the price of plots by 300%. Larson said even with the price increase, the board is concerned that non-residents will buy all the available sites. The cemetery board chairman said out-of-state purchasers are limited to a maximum of three burial plots.
Per the new cemetery board bylaws, exceptions to the plot limit require approval of the town council.
Larson said the cemetery board also added to its bylaws a provision to prevent people from flipping their purchased plots for a higher price. The cemetery board chairman said all sales must exclusively be done through the town.
Another change to the Elk Mountain Cemetery Board’s bylaws is related to the internment of cremated remains. Larson said in the past, people placed urns on top of grave sites. The cemetery board chairman said the new rules comply with federal laws that require all cremains be buried.
Larson said the Elk Mountain Cemetery Board has also reinstituted a long-standing council ruling that requires the public works department to be reimbursed for burials. Larson said a $200 fee will now be charged to have the town dig a grave.
The $200 fee will be waived if a person chooses to use privately owned equipment to open and close a grave.
Councilman Wade Nelson serves as the council representative on the Elk Mountain Cemetery Board. Larson said Councilman Nelson was key to revising the cemetery board’s bylaws.
For more information on purchasing a burial plot in the Elk Mountain Cemetery, call the Elk Mountain town hall at 348-7388 or visit www.townofelkmountain.com.
