Cemetery life extended

The existing City Cemetery was given a new life Monday, as Yorkton Council approved a plan to expand the facility.

"The current Cemetery is approximately five years from being sold out, and an expansion would meet the community's cemetery needs for the immediate future," detailed a report present to the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.

"During the 2011 budget process, Council approved hiring a consultant to determine the feasibility of expanding the existing cemetery as well as forecast how far in the future an expansion would accommodate community needs."

Darcy McLeod, Director of community Development, Parks and Recreation with the City said expanding the existing cemetery will serve the community well.

"Expanding the cemetery will meet the after death care needs of our community for the next 30 years, freeing up the Gladstone Cemetery for de-registration. Any new location should have strong personal and emotional significance to many individuals and be as appropriate, restful and peaceful as possible. Our cemeteries speak symbolically about our attitudes towards the deceased and therefore attention should be taken to find a peaceful location that respects and honours our loved ones in a dignified manner and allows for appropriate reflection of loved ones past. Expanding the existing Cemetery will continue to do this allowing time to find an appropriate new location," he said.

The consultants on the plan, Hilton Landmark Inc. provided four conceptual models for the expansion project, which will see land (some 2.5 acres) south of the existing cemetery utilized.

The concept recommended by City Administration, "will accommodate approximately 1,265 casket lots, include a woodland pathway through a cremation garden with approximately 125 cremation lots and provide improved visual screening for the residential area to the west of the cemetery. Also included is a works yard for storage of maintenance equipment, funeral service equipment, supplies and soils," said McLeod.

The expansion is expected to extend the life of the cemetery to about 18 years, although consultant Rob Hilton said it could be longer as trends show a move to more cremations, and less casket burials. He noted in 1970 cremations were only six per cent of dispositions, but had grown to 68 per cent in 2009.

At the Yorkton Cemetery 40-out-of-100 dispositions have been cremated, added Hilton.

Moving forward, Hilton said between 2012 and 2030 "the Yorkton Cemetery will perform a total of 1830 dispositions (955 casket and 875 cremation)."

"That will require about 1.6 acres of cemetery land."

Councillor Les Arnelien said while "it makes sense to expand" the existing cemetery, he said he was under the impression the area of expansion "was not a suitable site," based on its land type.

Piezometers were installed at two locations south of the cemetery and the preliminary indications are that there are no issues with soil conditions, however more investigation is planned as part of a design phase, said McLeod.

Hilton agreed, noting "the soil types are fine for cemetery purposes."

Coun. Chris Wyatt said the plan had merit because it provided the city with time to better plan a new cemetery location.

The City has established a second cemetery on Gladstone Avenue South, which has been registered with the Province as required in the provincial Cemeteries Act, 1999. There is a desire to use these lands for future development but because it is registered as a cemetery, it is not available, detailed the report to Council.

The Gladstone location "may be better suited to something else," agreed Wyatt.

Coun. Bob Maloney said the plan was a good one fiscally.

"I think this is a good idea, more cost-effective," he said, adding there is " already some of the infrastructure there."

The design costs have been included in the 2012 Capital Budget and the construction costs would be included in the 2013 Capital Budget process for Council consideration.