The City of Trail won’t install a third structure to store ashes at Mountain View Cemetery, leaving the job instead to a local funeral home.
In 2013, the city agreed to let Clark’s Funeral Services develop a columbarium at the cemetery, which was expected to ultimately have five units. The first unit with 64 niche spaces was installed in 2014 and a second unit with the same number was added in 2021.
In June of this year, the city received a request from Clark’s, which said more than three-quarters of the niches in the second unit have been sold. The funeral home proposed ordering a third unit of the same size be placed next to the existing ones.
Clark’s suggested the arrangement would match the terms of the previous columbariums, where the funeral home paid the cost of construction and the city received $175 from the sale of each niche. While the city would assume responsibility for maintenance, the funeral home said it is expected to be minimal.
This week city council received a staff report suggesting council decline the offer and instead buy a columbarium at an estimated cost of $45,000 to $55,000. In part, this was because staff said it was unusual to have a for-profit business provide columbarium services in a municipally-owned and operated cemetery.
The report said the city already sells burial plots, and adding columbarium niches would not be much extra work. Revenue from selling columbarium niches could help offset other cemetery costs and reduce the burden on taxpayers, the report said.
But council said they were happy with the service Clark’s provides, and didn’t see enough reason to change things up.
“They have successfully delivered two units with no indication of public dissatisfaction,” councillor Bev Benson said. “I’d like to see Clark’s continue to partner with the city.”
Benson also said that while there was no formal agreement in 2013, there was at least an indication Clark’s would continue to steer the development of the space until five units were completed.
Councillor Nick Cashol said while the city could make money to offset other cemetery-related costs, he thought it was important to show support for local business.
Council agreed it was worth having a look at the financial arrangement, though, to ensure what’s being charged for burial plots, columbarium spaces, and other cemetery services is enough to pay for the cemetery’s care. Staff will review the rates.
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