Council authorizes supervised inspection and restoration of 136‑year‑old cemetery crypt

Spring City’s council voted to allow a licensed contractor to reopen and document a 136‑year‑old crypt at the Hampton Cemetery, but only after the city attorney reviews the contractor agreement and the contractor provides indemnity, insurance and a performance bond.

Paul Strawn, identified by council staff as the contractor proposing work at the Hansen family crypt, told the council he wants to “dig out that dirt and enter the burial chamber and see how the … burial chamber is” and then photograph and document its condition before any restoration. He described the structure as “a 136 years old” and said his plan, if the chamber is intact, is to reseal the entrance with a welded door and decorative capstones rather than place modern vaults inside the old burial chamber.

Council and staff repeatedly raised legal and safety questions: state law and Spring City code require written authorization for disinterment, and an excavation that disturbs a burial context can trigger additional legal obligations. City staff recommended that the original private agreement be reviewed and that the council require a licensed, bonded and insured contractor and a performance bond to protect the project and the city. Councilmember discussion also made clear the city expects staff supervision during any field work and compensation for staff overtime required for oversight.

Councilmember (motion-maker) moved to authorize Strawn to proceed "subject to us first being able to review the agreement with our attorneys, see if we need to make additions to it, including compensation for the city, performance bond, whatever other requirements" and to return a signed agreement if the conditions are met. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote.

Next steps: city staff and the city attorney will review and (if needed) revise the contractor agreement to include indemnity and bond language, confirm licensed and insured status, and set compensation for city oversight. If those conditions are met, the contractor may excavate only to the sealed door to document the chamber; further excavation or restoration work will depend on the documentation and the engineer/attorney recommendations.