Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 07-18-2017
To: Mayor and City Council
From: General Services Department
Title:
title
Consideration, discussion, and possible preview of an ordinance amending the Broken Arrow Code, Chapter 8, Cemeteries, Article II, Park Grove Cemetery; Division 1. Generally; Sec. 8-33 Benches, urns, etc. prohibited to provide for the installation of memory benches, the sale of memory benches and designating types and areas where benches are allowed; repealing all ordinances to the contrary
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Background:
On May 19, 2017 General Services received a request to allow for the provision, placement and sale of memory benches in Park Grove Cemetery. Memorial benches are currently prohibited by ordinance except when used as a headstone.
Based on this request, staff researched the subject and found that this is a common practice at various cemeteries and is also a means to provide an additional service.
Memory Benches can be placed around the edges of sections, in line with monuments, space and terrain permitting. This arrangement will maintain access for mowing and other grave site equipment into the section. Additionally, a bench can be placed between each of the wing sections of the Cremation niches. At this time, we only have one niche set erected, only four benches could be placed in that location. The Sexton has identified approximately 150 potential bench locations.
There are many styles and price ranges of monument benches available. A typical customer will pay about $1,200 for a standard bench from a retail monument company. The customer also pays a setting fee established by the Cemetery. An example of what it might cost if a customer installed a standard bench at Park Grove would break down as follows:
Cost, delivery and engraving (standard gray bench) $1,200.00
Tax (8.417%) $ 101.00
Park Grove setting fee $ 416.64
Total $1,7...
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