Guelph-Eramosa Township is scheduled to take over full operation of the Rockwood Cemetery on Jan. 1.
On Dec. 5 director of public works Robin Milne explained the township has already taken over a lot of the cemetery responsibilities from current operator Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery Commission.
However, on Jan. 1 it will be official. The township will also be responsible for all cemetery fees.
One of the changes for 2017 is a two per cent increase in the interment rights and interment/inurnment fees to reflect the rate of inflation.
Milne also pointed out the township is now going to bill for a non-resident surcharge.
For any interment right holder or deceased who has not lived in or owned property in Guelph-Eramosa within the previous 10 years, a 15% surcharge on lot fees will be collected, Milne explained. He also acknowledged there could be circumstances where that requirement is adjusted.
“This is a common fee that you’ll see in municipal cemeteries,” he said. “You don’t necessarily see it in private cemeteries.”
Because cemeteries are not meant to draw from taxation, the additional charge for non-residents and non-taxpayers will help the Rockwood Cemetery be more self-sufficient, Milne explained.
“The reality is … especially (for) a cemetery the size of Rockwood, that only has about 14 burials a year … to survive on its own revenue … it doesn’t happen, so there is taxation that’s involved when we operate the cemetery,” he said.
Milne said the majority of the fees are similar to what Woodlawn was charging, but staff did look at bylaws from other municipalities and adjust some fees.
“These are services Woodlawn always provided, we’re just taking them over,” Mayor Chris White said.
