KAMSACK, Sask. — A new cemetery bylaw was approved by Kamsack town council at its regular meeting of Sept. 28.
The previous bylaw governing the operation of Riverview Cemetery and rates charged, was approved in 2017, but that bylaw made few changes from a bylaw approved in 2014, other than to include provisions for columbariums, explained Barry Hvidston, CAO (chief administrative officer).
With recent addition of the community’s new columbarium project, it was needed to look at the rates and update the pricing policy, Hvidston said. The resulting new bylaw makes Kamsack’s cemetery on par or less expensive that other communities’ cemeteries.
The new bylaw prohibits use of ATVs, quads, snowmobiles and dirt bikes in the cemetery and any new trees, shrubs, flowers, plants or hedges planted must obtain permission from the superintendent prior to planting. It also stipulates that no one shall engage or play at any game or sport or discharge any firearm (except at a military funeral) in the cemetery, and it is unlawful to disturb persons assembled for the burial of the dead or commit a nuisance or behave in an indecent or unseemly manner in the cemetery.
The bylaw requires that an advance notice of 48 hours be given for an interment between May 1 to Oct. 31, while a notice of at least 72 hours is required from Nov. 1 to April 30, except for certain circumstances.
The bylaw includes provisions for a disinterment and stipulates that only maintenance or works approved by the Town may be completed within the cemetery.
Rates for cemetery plots have increased from $300 to $600 for residents, and from $600 to $900 for non-residents, while cost of columbarium niches for both, residents and non-residents, range from $1,900 to $2,100, depending on which row of the columbarium is selected. Plaques will be charged at cost plus 10 per cent.
Half of the sale of a plot plus an additional $50 (up from $45) is to be placed into a reserve fund for cemetery care and maintenance.
Based on three hours of work at $200 an hour, open and close fees from May 1 to Oct. 1 have increased from $325 plus GST to $600 plus GST on weekdays; from $450 to $750 plus tax on weekends and after hours, and from $600 to $900 plus tax on statutory holidays.
The winter rates, from Nov. 1 to April 30, based on 4.5 hours of work at $200 an hour, have increased from $750 to $900 plus tax on weekdays; $850 to $1,125 plus tax on weekends and after hours, and from $950 to $1,350 plus tax on statutory holidays.
For cremated remains, based on $200 an hour in summer, the cost has increased rom $100 to $200 plus GST on weekdays; from $240 to $250 plus GST on weekends and after hours, and has been reduced from $365 to $350 on statutory holidays. In winter, based on 1.5 hours at $200 an hour, the cost has increased from $205 to $300 plus GST on weekdays; from $285 to $375 plus tax on weekends and after hours, and from $410 to $450 plus tax on statutory holidays.
Disinterment is to be performed at $200 an hour, doubled in winter, and if a third party is hired, the cost will be the responsibility of the party wishing the disinterment, plus $50 per hour as a supervisory fee.
