Council forms cemetery study committee, adopts 60-day moratorium on new plot sales

The Fountain Green City Council voted April 19 to form a cemetery study committee and adopt a 60-day moratorium on most new plot sales while the committee reviews rules, perpetual care funding and plot mapping.

The council appointed Jake Littlefield, Laura Beagley and Kurt Nielsen to the committee and directed them to stake and ribbon proposed access and plot areas, prepare a list of questions and bring initial recommendations to the next council meeting. Mayor (presiding) told the council the committee should report back within 30 to 60 days.

Why it matters: Cemetery policy touches families, finances and city land use. Council members said they want an orderly process to address unclear records and sale practices before allowing additional purchases.

Councilmember Vaughn moved to adopt a resolution (22026-0319) placing a temporary moratorium on cemetery plot sales; the motion included amendments that limit sales during the moratorium to two plots in cases of imminent interment. “No cemetery plots in the Fountain Green Cemetery will be sold for 60 days following this adoption,” the amended language states, while allowing the exceptions spelled out in the motion.

Staff and council discussed digitizing records if the city obtains a grant; staff said a grant application is already in progress that could accelerate digitization. Councilmembers also directed staff to leave temporary ribbons on the ground so the public can view proposed plot lines and encouraged the committee to hold a field visit and a work meeting to scrutinize proposals.

The motion passed unanimously. Councilmembers said the moratorium is intended as a brief pause for fact-finding and to preserve the city’s option to respond quickly to urgent burial needs during the study period.