(file/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Marker-size reviewed

Town updates cemetery bylaw

Apr 24, 2023 | 1:48 PM

The Town of Battleford updated its cemetery bylaw related to markers and monuments at its recent meeting.

Parks and Recreation Manager Jordan Schechtel said in his report the bylaw was originally adopted in 1990 and saw very few changes since then.

Town administration compared the town’s monuments and markers section of its bylaw with other communities in the latest review.

“We found that our markers were on average smaller or on the smaller size, which limits the amount of information people can put on the markers, and also limits the ability to put in the flower vases,” Schechtel said.

The existing bylaw also provided limited information about the size of concrete bases needed for each marker.

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The proposed amendment to the bylaw would adjust the dimensions for full adult casket and cremation sized plots. It would also better define the concrete border requirements as well as add maximum allowable dimensions for markers in the old section of the cemetery.

Schechtel said increasing the allowable limits of the markers should not create any additional problems for new interments or to maintain the graves.

Some of the updates will see increases to marker sizes permitted. For example, the single-grave marker and base used to be a maximum 28″ long and 18″ wide, level with the ground. Under the amended bylaw, the single-grave maximum marker size will be 30″ long x 22″ wide, and the single-grave maximum concrete base size 36″ long x 28″ wide.

“In general, the changes will increase the markers from anywhere from four to 10 inches, depending on if it’s a full-size grave, a cremation or in the old section,” Schechtel said. “There are no financial implications to the town to increasing the sizes. It could cost some people more money if they choose to make their markers larger. But, in general, it should make those who are wishing to place markers happier because they can get more information on the markers now.”

Chief Administrative Officer Ash Alam said the bylaw amendment is “definitely a change we need to make to maintain our cemetery to standards.”

Deputy Mayor Doug Laing, who chaired the meeting, said Schechtel has spent “quite a few years” working on different aspects of the town’s cemeteries to make improvements.

Council carried third reading and passed the proposed amended bylaw as presented.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow