Hortonville board approves $800 refund after cemetery-software error delayed burial

The Village of Hortonville board voted April 16 to reimburse $800 to cover cemetery fees linked to a mistaken burial placement caused by a software-data migration error.

Staff explained the error occurred during a transfer from an older Excel spreadsheet (used through 2021) to new cemetery management software: entries that had parentheses enclosing family-owner names were interpreted by the new system as occupied graves. That led to a funeral home placing a burial in a plot that the family believed was reserved, forcing a postponement and an emergency re-dig the next day.

A trustee told the board the funeral director relayed that the family endured financial and emotional strain — missed work, extra handling of the casket, and coordination with the funeral home. The funeral director, according to the trustee, said the family would accept $400 but would accept a larger amount if the board chose to do so.

Board members debated whether to grant a partial refund or the full village charge. Trustees agreed the error stemmed from the software migration and that the family suffered inconvenience. Administrator Nathan and Trustee Jim Mohler supported compensating the family, and the board approved reimbursement of $800 (the village’s winter burial rate as shown in the packet), with the caveat that payment be contingent upon a signed release from the family (or their representative) to prevent further claims.

Board members also directed staff to correct the cemetery records and reconcile the migrated data against the historical spreadsheet to avoid future mistakes.

What happens next: The finance/clerk’s office will process the refund upon receipt of the signed release; staff will continue reviewing and fixing cemetery records.