Cemetery charges could rise

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ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – Burials in St. Charles Township’s cemeteries might cost more with the coming of the new year. One charge in particular has a local funeral director asking questions.

The St. Charles Township Board will consider fee increases for its cemeteries at its meeting tonight. Among the fees to be considered is a surcharge for funerals that use township grounds after certain times.

“It’s to encourage people to conduct things during our regular working hours,” board President Richard Griffith said.

Funeral Director Lee Norris of Norris Funeral Home questioned why the increase would apply to certain times and how realistic the charge was.

“We’re in this business to help people through this time,” Norris said. “But the cemetery board seems to see this as an opportunity to collect fees.”

The township operates six cemeteries, four of which receive burials.

The township is considering applying a surcharge of $250 to all burials occurring on Saturdays before noon. A charge of $500 will be applied to Saturday burials set to take place after noon. Holiday burials would cost an additional $750.

Fee increases also are being considered and would apply to burial spaces, opening and closing of graves. An overtime fee also would apply to funerals scheduled during times when staff would not ordinarily be on duty. The cemeteries are maintained by a staff of four full-time employees and three to four part-time employees in the summer. The cemeteries also charge additional fees for the burials of those who are not residents of the townships.

If approved, the new fees would go into effect Jan. 1, 2008.

Griffith said the charges would offset overtime pay to some of the cemetery employees. While Sexton Roger Ronzheimer does not get overtime, other employees do, Griffith said.

Norris argued that the charges are unrealistic as funerals may be delayed by traffic or relatives may not wish to leave the grave site at the specified time. Fees should also be spread out more equitably, Norris said, and not solely applied to weekends.

“The reality is you probably won’t get a funeral out of there by noon,” Norris said. “Don’t put all your fees on the Saturday people. You just create Monday problems.”

Griffith contends that planning would prevent some of the headaches and that the fees will encourage it.

“The people who use and benefit should bear the brunt of it,” Griffith said. “You go to an electrician and he’ll want time and a half for a Saturday and double time for Sunday.”

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The Township Board of Trustees will consider the charges at 7 p.m. today at its office on 1725 Dean St. If approved, the charges will go into effect Jan. 1, 2008.

The charges are:

$250 for all burials on Saturdays before noon or after 2:30 p.m. on regular work days

$500 for Saturday burials after noon

$750 for burials on holidays announced by the St. Charles Township

— The St. Charles Township Cemeteries