City Ready To Cut Cost Of Burials Without Graveside Services By $50
People who don’t hold graveside services may get a $50 break soon at the city cemetery.
The City Council is expected to adopt new prices for opening and closing graves at its meeting tonight. Current prices reflect the cost of putting up a tent, setting up chairs and providing the other furnishings for graveside services.
There are more and more burials without the graveside send-off. More often, everything in that vein is taken care of at the church, chapel or funeral home, said Doug Eastwood, parks and cemetery director.
But there is only one price and people are paying for the tent and chairs whether or not they use them, Eastwood said.
A weekday grave opening and closing now costs $300. People who choose to skip the service will pay $250 if the council adopts the new fees.
Mayor Al Hassell also will declare a state of emergency to get the pump replaced in the Locust Avenue well. This waives competitive bidding requirements for repairing the 14-foot-long, 350-horsepower pump and gets the job done before summer.
The pump developed electrical complications Jan. 16 and has to be pulled out and shipped back to the manufacturer, said Jim Markley, water superintendent. Coeur d’Alene doesn’t need the pump in winter.
But the Locust Avenue well accounts for 20 percent of the city’s water supply in the summer. It may cost as much as $30,000 to replace the pump.
In other business the council:
Will consider a resolution requiring the owner of 317 12th Street to install a sidewalk. The owner of the property, Randall Wade, has not responded to requests he put in the sidewalk, city officials said. Under the resolution, Wade would be given 60 days to comply or the city will build the sidewalk and collect the cost as part of his property tax.
Will consider restricting parking on Borah Avenue from Fourth Street east for about 75 feet because the street is narrow.
Is expected to award a bid for $401,053 to Coeur d’Alene Asphalt for street paving.
Will call for bids for paving the city parking lot at Independence Point.
, DataTimes