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Fees, changes in store for cemetery
Non-resident fees climb to $1,200

<br>Patrick Whitehurst/WGCN<br>
City officials are looking at a number of changes when it comes to the cemetery in Williams, located at the west end of the city.

<br>Patrick Whitehurst/WGCN<br> City officials are looking at a number of changes when it comes to the cemetery in Williams, located at the west end of the city.

WILLIAMS - City officials voted to raise the cost for cemetery plots for non-residential customers during the recent regular meeting of Williams City Council Aug. 13. Costs for non-residents will now be set at $1,200, though fees will not change at this time for residents who wish to purchase a plot. Chief Building Inspector Tim Pettit recommended changing the current fee structure, which will effectively raise the price for a gravesite for non-residential buyers, while keeping the price the same for residents of the area.

"We're keeping residents as it is," Pettit said. "Residents would be $300, that's what they are now."

Pettit added that residents can buy plots for family members, no matter where those family members are from.

Council member Andrew Hamby said part of the issue stemmed from the low rates in Williams when it came to cemetery plots.

"We're being told that the biggest part of the problem is mortuaries are buying plots here, because it's cheaper, and they have a requirement to be able to provide some place for transients," Hamby said. Hamby voted against the increase in fees during the meeting.

Council member Kevin Young suggested raising the price for non-residential buyers to $1,200 after an initial recommendation set at $900, in order to make the Williams Cemetery less appealing for out of town mortuaries.

Cemetery fund

Williams City Manager Dennis Wells, meanwhile, said he has been investigating the possibility of creating a cemetery fund for the city.

"We're going to look at how we can set up a fund," Wells said. "Many municipalities have funds to help fund capital projects and clean up projects for their cemeteries. Williams does not have one of these."

Money, he said, could possibly come from individual bequeathements to the cemetery fund.

"We've actually had one direct inquiry on a donation to the fund, which we do not currently have," Wells said, adding that he also received a call recently about a substantial donation to the cemetery as well.

"I think we can use those funds somewhat like Clean and Beautiful does with their funds for capital projects and improvements," Wells said.


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