Chapter 4.20
INTERMENTS AND DISINTERMENTS
Sections:
4.20.010 Full payment required.
4.20.030 Notice to superintendent.
4.20.050 Designation of position of grave.
4.20.060 More than one burial per grave.
4.20.070 Disinterment authorization.
4.20.090 Funeral within grounds.
4.20.100 Opening and closing graves.
4.20.110 Liner or vault required.
4.20.010 Full payment required.
All lots are to be purchased at the office of the city treasurer. No lots, tracts, or grave space shall be occupied for burial purposes until the same has been paid for in full. The cemetery superintendent will permit no burials without a receipt signed by the city treasurer showing payment for such lot or tract. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.015 Manner of payment.
Cemetery lots not paid in full at the time of reservation shall be paid in accordance with this provision. Purchasers shall pay a down payment of no less than 25 percent of the current sale price as provided by city resolution. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid in full within eight months of the date of reservation. No interest shall be charged during this eight-month period. In the event the purchase price is not fully paid within the above-referenced eight-month time period, the owner shall forfeit any and all reservations to the lot and all moneys paid as a part of the down payment. Any lot so reserved shall then be open for purchase by any other member of the public. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 3-95 § 1, 1995).
4.20.020 Schedule of prices.
The schedule of cost for all lots, blocks, tracts, or parcels of land in the platted portion of said cemetery property shall be fixed and adopted by resolution of the city council and filed in the office of the city clerk. No lots, tracts, or grave space shall be sold or disposed of for less than the price named in such schedule which may be in force at the time of such sale or disposal. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.030 Notice to superintendent.
When interments or disinterments must be made, notice shall be given in advance to the cemetery superintendent so as to have no less than 24 hours (and at least one working day prior notice) in order to properly prepare the grave. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.050 Designation of position of grave.
When an interment is to be made, the exact position of the grave must be designated and this order must be given in person, in writing, to the cemetery superintendent. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.060 More than one burial per grave.
There shall be only one burial per grave on any grave purchased after January 1, 1964, except as follows:
(1) Cremains of up to four people may be interred in a single grave, regardless of whether there has been a previous burial; provided, however, that when a conventional burial is proposed subsequent to interment of cremains, the conventional burial will be permitted only if the cremains of no more than one person have been previously interred on the proposed burial site.
(2) The bodies of two children may be interred in a single adult grave; provided, the outer case of neither is more than four feet in length. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 18-97 § 1, 1997; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.070 Disinterment authorization.
No disinterment will be allowed without the written consent of the superior court of Pierce County. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.080 Proof of ownership.
On the death of any owner of lots in the cemetery, the heirs or assigns or devises of such decedent must, if required, furnish to and file with the city satisfactory proof of their ownership, and all such papers shall remain with the city. No transfer of any lot or interest therein will be valid without the city first being notified of such transfer and the same shall have been endorsed on the books of the city. No cemetery lot, tract, or grave space purchased from the city shall be resold to any person, firm, or corporation other than the city. The city will, upon written application, return the purchase price of any lot, tract, or grave space at the price originally charged by the city. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.090 Funeral within grounds.
Funerals within the grounds shall be under the control of the cemetery superintendent. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.100 Opening and closing graves.
All graves shall be opened and closed by city employees. A charge payable in advance shall be made for each opening and closing, at a cost established by the city council by resolution or by designee if the city council has delegated this responsibility through a formal agreement. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.110 Liner or vault required.
No interments will be permitted in the cemetery without a reinforced concrete liner or state approved type of burial vault. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).
4.20.120 Sodding and seeding.
All graves will be sodded or seeded by the city or designee without charge to the lot owners when the grave has thoroughly settled and has been made level with the surface of the surrounding lawn. (Ord. 16-16 § 5, 2016; Ord. 06-15 § 10, 2015; Ord. 12-91 § 2, 1991).