City of Gallatin, MO Chapter 150 City Cemeteries

Section 150.010 Rules And Regulations.

[Ord. No. 1061-07 § 1, 10-10-2007]

A. The following rules and regulations are hereby adopted to regulate all City-owned cemeteries:

1. Graves shall be located with the headstone to the west side facing east and thereof twenty-seven (27) inches from the lot line, and shall be opened and closed by the Cemetery Sexton.

2. Lots shall not be filled or graded to an elevation in excess of the general topography or graves mounded when fully settled.

3. Lot corner markers shall be set flush with ground level so that a lawn mower will pass over without injury to machine or operator.

4. The Board of Aldermen reserves the right to remove or exclude any tree, flower, shrub, or other thing which, in their judgment, might become objectionable in any way to the property maintenance of the cemeteries. Any and all plantings shall be under the direction of the Sexton.

5. Nothing shall be constructed or installed in or upon any lot which is made of cement, in whole or in part, if such installation or construction shows above ground.

6. No mausoleum, or whatever capacity, shall be built or installed unless the builder shall have obtained sufficient territory that the nearest point of installation to be at least twenty (20) feet from territory under other ownership.

7. Ground space occupied by monuments, marker or any memorial installation shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the entire surface of the lot.

8. Lot owners shall not sell all or any part of their lot without obtaining permission in writing from the City. There shall be a deed preparation fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) assessed to affect this change.

9. All burials (including the burial of cremains) must use an outer burial container to protect the integrity of the cemetery topography. The material for these containers may include concrete, steel, or fiberglass.

10. Lot owners may bury up to but not exceed two (2) sets of cremains per space. The scattering of cremains is prohibited.

[Ord. No. 1207-18, 6-25-2018]

11. Only employees of the City or its agents shall open and close graves or make any disinterment.

12. Wreaths, flowers, and other materials left on graves which have withered or become unsightly will be removed by the City without notice. Owners cannot plant any flower, tree or shrub within the cemetery.

[Ord. No. 1207-18, 6-25-2018]

13. The City will take reasonable precautions to protect the property of lot and grave owners in the cemeteries from loss or damage, but it specifically disclaims all responsibility for loss or damage, whether direct of collateral, from the acts of Providence, including, especially, winds, tornadoes, cyclones, snow, hail, frost, fire, explosion, or lightening.

14. The City will not be responsible for loss or damage to any personal property article or articles left upon any lot, grave or any part of the cemeteries. The City will also not be responsible for any accidents which occur on cemetery property.

15. City cemeteries are for the interment of remains of human beings only.

16. Graves shall be marked by a permanent monument. This monument shall be installed within one hundred eighty-two (182) days from the date of interment. Monuments shall consist of the accepted materials (granite or bronze) of the Monument Industry. The board reserves the right to exclude or remove any monument deemed to not comply with this standard.

[Ord. No. 1207-18, 6-25-2018]

Section 150.020 City Sexton — Duties.

[Ord. No. 1206-18, 6-11-2018]

A. City Sexton. All city cemeteries, now in existence or which may be established, shall be under the control and charge of some suitable person designated as the City Sexton, to be appointed by the Mayor, with the consent of the Board of Aldermen. All work done in the cemetery regarding the location and opening of graves must be done under the supervision of the Sexton.

B. Duties. The Sexton acting for the City shall have the following duties:

1. Assist With Lot Location. The Sexton shall assist lot owners or funeral homes in determining the location of lots within the Town Cemetery.

2. It shall be the duty of the Sexton to be at all times in readiness, either by himself/herself or some competent person under his/her direction and responsible to him/her, to perform the duties of his/her office, as set out in this Chapter. Any failure to perform the duties enjoined upon him/her may be cause of the Sexton's removal by the Mayor.

3. It shall be the duty of the Sexton to approve the opening of any grave in the cemetery; to tend to approve the interment of all bodies of deceased persons; to require that persons opening a grave fill up and keep in good order such grave in the cemetery, and report the conditions of the cemetery as requested by the Board of Aldermen.

4. It shall be the duty of the Sexton to report to the Board of Aldermen all necessary repairs and all other matters touching the maintenance of the cemetery.

5. The Sexton is empowered to arrest all trespassers or persons defacing or injuring gravestones, graves, monuments or other property in the cemetery, and he/she shall report the same to the City Attorney for prosecution.

6. The opening and closing of graves is under the control of the Sexton.

C. Fees. The Sexton shall collect and receive the following fees for his/her duties:

1. The Sexton shall collect and receive a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for assisting with lot locations, provided that such fee may be waived for any locations made by the Sexton for the funeral home which employs the Sexton.