Soperton City Council Raises Prices for Cemetery Plots

The Soperton City Council voted to raise the prices for plots in the Westview Cemetery during their regular meeting on Jan. 20 in the Soperton City Hall.

Following a motion from Council Member Andrew Simons, the council voted unanimously to raise the price of cemetery plots from $120 to $500 for residents of Treutlen County and $800 for non-residents. This pricing plan was inspired by similar prices used by neighboring communities such as Tarrytown, which charges $500 per plot for residents and $1,000 per plot for non-residents.

“I must admit, I was a little reluctant going up, but when I did my homework, and I saw what other people were [charging], it’s still a bargain,” said Council Member Kendra Madison-Harswell.

According to Mayor John Koon, the price increase is to mitigate the number of new applicants for plots. As of Jan. 5, Westview Cemetery had 80 plots remaining, which Simons estimated would fill up within the council members’ lifetimes.

“I think that’s kind of a forward-facing way of looking at it, because it is going to become an issue, maybe not during our terms but during our lifetimes,” said Simons in the Jan. 5 work session. “It will become an issue.”

The council also held the second reading of a new cemetery ordinance drafted by City Attorney Paul Calhoun. Council Member Misty Brantley offered a motion to accept the draft, which passed unanimously.

Following the ordinance’s acceptance, Calhoun and City Clerk Samantha Richards will compile a policy manual regarding the cemetery, which will require council approval.

The council also discussed potential options for families who wished to add a mausoleum or crypt structure to their plot, but no official action was taken on the matter.

The council were also set to hear a public comment regarding a potential Valentine’s Day event. According to Richards, the resident suggested a double-movie night in the local park with food trucks, which could be afforded by admission ticket revenue.

The resident did not attend the meeting, but council members expressed interest in holding such an event should the resident speak to them. Council members did take issue with the resident’s suggestion of an ice cream truck at the event, as they believed it would be too cold for attendees to desire ice cream.

Council Member Xandra Brown also asked for clarification regarding issues in county road work, which Mayor Koon claimed stemmed from communication issues between companies performing the road work.