Chapter 15.16
CEMETERY
Sections:
15.16.040 Cemetery operation and maintenance.
15.16.060 Applications required for burial or disinterment.
15.16.070 Opening and closing graves.
15.16.080 Uniformity of grounds and markers.
15.16.100 Disposal of unused grave.
15.16.120 Use of cemetery roads restricted.
15.16.010 Established.
The municipal cemetery now owned and operated by the borough, located in U.S. Survey 1336, shall be known as the Wrangell Memorial Cemetery, and the municipal cemetery now owned and operated by the borough, located in U.S. Survey 3402, Tract “A,” Lot 3 shall be known as the Sunset Gardens Cemetery. The municipal cemeteries shall be available, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to all persons irrespective of race, religion, creed or color. [Ord. 499 § 4, 1986.]
15.16.020 Caretaker – Appointment and salary.
Repealed by Ord. 799. [Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.030.]
15.16.030 Recordkeeping.
The borough clerk shall keep books or records recording the names of owners of all graves owned or sold, the names of persons interred therein, the date of death and burial and such other statistics as may be necessary. [Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.040.]
15.16.040 Cemetery operation and maintenance.
The borough manager shall provide for the annual costs of care and maintenance of the cemeteries in the borough budget, which costs will include the ground upkeep and such other operation and maintenance as may be necessary. [Ord. 499 § 5, 1986.]
15.16.050 Purchase of graves.
No purchase of cemetery graves shall be made except upon requisition approved by the borough clerk and payment for all purchases made shall be made to the finance director.
The assembly shall, by resolution, establish fees and rates for all cemetery services. A public hearing shall be required on the resolution that establishes such fees and rates. [Ord. 1022 § 1, 2022; Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.060.]
15.16.055 Columbarium.
A. Definition. A structure of vaults lined with recesses for cinerary urns. There shall be 100 niches located at the Sunset Gardens Cemetery. The dimension for each niche shall be 12 inches by 12 inches by 15-1/2 inches which may accommodate one or two urns. [Ord. 1022 § 1, 2022; Ord. 922 (am) § 2, 2016; Ord. 732 § 4, 2003.]
15.16.060 Applications required for burial or disinterment.
No burial or disinterment shall be permitted within the cemetery without first making application to the borough clerk for the purpose of recording the name of the person to be buried, or disinterred, the name of the owner of the grave, and such other information as may be required. [Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.070.]
15.16.070 Opening and closing graves.
A. No person shall be permitted to open and close graves within a borough cemetery, except upon application to the borough clerk. Permission may be given for a person to bury cremated remains under supervision of the borough. Except for disinterment, the borough shall open and close all graves. A fee shall be collected from the persons requesting the opening and closing of all graves, including burial and disinterment. The borough shall have no obligation to perform the disinterment, and may contract said service to private enterprise. All disinterments shall be done under the supervision of the borough.
B. The funeral director, or person in charge, shall notify the borough when a burial grave is to be opened, and shall give the date and time graveside services will be conducted, which notice shall be given no less than 48 hours in advance of any service. Notice given less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged extra labor fees or any overtime hours required, equal to the hourly pay and benefit cost of employee required. [Ord. 1022 § 1, 2022; Ord. 922 (am) § 3, 2016; Ord. 799 § 2, 2007; Ord. 602 § 4, 1995; Ord. 537 § 4, 1988; Ord. 499 § 6, 1986; Ord. 433 § 4, 1982; Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.080.]
15.16.080 Uniformity of grounds and markers.
A. It is highly desirable that uniformity be maintained and, in order to maintain such uniformity, the borough reserves the right to standardize the design and material used for markers, to prohibit the planting of trees and shrubs, and to prohibit the erection of fences or other structures of any kind to carry out such uniformity. Maximum size for the base of markers shall be 36 inches by 20 inches and 18 inches high. The maximum weight of markers shall be 250 pounds. Crosses or any other religious symbol shall not exceed three feet in height and width.
B. No temporary decoration, marker or monument may be placed upon or near a grave which extends above the surface of the ground except on the day of burial, on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans’ Day, and these shall be removed within seven days thereafter. All permanent markers shall be set on foundations constructed and installed to the specifications of the borough except those markers that have built-in foundations. No marker shall extend beyond border of grave (three and one-half feet by nine feet).
C. Sunset Gardens Cemetery began operation in 1966. The borough desires that this cemetery be maintained in a uniform manner and the following rules shall apply:
No enclosure of any kind, such as a fence, roping, hedge, border or ditch shall be permitted around any grave, and no grave shall be raised above the established grade. The borough shall remove all materials prohibited by this section which may be in place at the passage of the ordinance codified in this section, or which may in the future be placed on or near any grave, after giving 30 days’ notice of such action to any known party which may have an interest therein.
D. Repealed by Ord. 799.
E. The borough reserves the right to make special exceptions to the rules set forth in this section or to adopt additional rules by resolution in order to properly operate and maintain the cemeteries. [Ord. 1022 § 1, 2022; Ord. 922 (am) § 4, 2016; Ord. 799 § 3, 2007; Ord. 766 § 5, 2005; Ord. 602 § 5, 1995; Ord. 499 § 7, 1986; Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.090.]
15.16.090 Price of graves – Perpetual care required.
Repealed by Ord. 1022. [Ord. 922 (am) § 5, 2016; Ord. 602 § 6, 1995; Ord. 545 § 4, 1988; Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.100.]
15.16.100 Disposal of unused grave.
It is provided that the owner of any unused cemetery grave may dispose of the grave to any other person, subject, however, to written approval of the borough clerk. [Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.150.]
15.16.110 Investment fund.
All moneys received from the sale of graves shall be deposited in the general fund of the borough. [Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.170.]
15.16.120 Use of cemetery roads restricted.
No person shall drive any horse or vehicle in or through the cemetery, its roads or paths, for ordinary purposes of traffic and travel, nor permit any cattle, horses, sheep, hogs or other stock of any kind to enter in or upon or to feed or graze in the cemetery. [Ord. 256 § 5, 1970; prior code § 45.50.190.]