Smithfield puts cemetery plot sales 'on hold' for now

By Ash Schiller

February 11, 2005 | SMITHFIELD -- Mayor Ray Winn has put a stop on cemetery plot sales in response to the onslaught of individuals trying to purchase plots before fees are raised.

The City Council discussed rate options Wednesday night, favoring the example of Hyrum, who just raised their non-resident fee to $600. Resident fees were also raised, but only by $25.

"I like it better to keep our rates low for our residents and high for non-residents," Winn said.

The council also discussed allowing Amalga and the Smithfield Canyon area to pay the resident fee, even though both areas are beyond city limits.

"We feel like they're part of our community," Winn said, "and this is the primary place where they do business."

A controversy faced by the council is the situation of an elderly individual leaving Smithfield to live in a rest home. Because they no longer reside in the city, they would technically be subject to the non-resident fee, City Recorder O. Dean Clegg said.

The council discussed ideas of how this could be avoided. Details of the cemetery fees will be discussed in next week's meeting.

In other business, the council discussed possible area plans for the block north of 100 South and east of Main Street. Planning was spurred by the American Legion's recent announcement that they would be building a new club house on 100 South.

In a city council meeting Jan. 26, Winn expressed a desire to collaborate with the American Legion and develop the block around their new club house. Considerations for the block include retail, office and apartment complex space. Landscaping and a memorial created by the Legion would also be part of the development. Four members of the American Legion attended Wednesday night's meeting and reviewed the plans.

"They're not exactly what we had planned. We will definitely have to do some rearranging," said Legion Post-Commander Dan Gyllenskog.

Winn said the plans are very flexible. The council is open to ideas, he said. Decisions regarding access and parking are also still in discussion. "It could end up being a real mess if it wasn't done right," Winn said.

In other business:

-- An audit report was given by Jones Simkins LLP. "The city is running very healthy," Curtis Roberts, a Simkins representative, said.

-- Winn suggested creating a Fireman Recognition Board for the fire department.

-- Resolution 05-04, support for Bear River Health Department's air quality incentive, and Resolution 05-03, accepting a petition for annexation of certain real property, were passed. Grant Koford, an environmental health scientist at the Bear River Health Department, gave a presentation to the council explaining the pollution problem and what is being done to improve Cache Valley's air.

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