Burial fees are set to increase at a Moose Jaw cemetery that has been grappling with high groundwater levels for the past several years.
The City of Moose Jaw says the 10 per cent hike, which takes effect June 1, is necessary to deal with declining revenues at the waterlogged Rosedale Cemetery.
“Over the last couple of years, certainly the plot sales have been affected and the revenues have been somewhat by our water conditions here as well,” said Jody Hauta, the city’s director of parks and recreation.
Special arrangements have to be made so the graves don't collapse or fill up with water. For grieving families and local funeral homes it has been difficult.
Kelly Scott at Parkview Funeral Chapel says even getting to the graves can sometimes be problematic.
“A lot of times the roads are closed off in certain sections or they’re very unmanageable, there’s a lot of mud or holes that the cars have to go through,” she said.
“I know a girl just recently whose grandmother passed away was out at the cemetery visiting and her truck got stuck.”
For much of the past year, an independent consultant has been studying the cemetery to try to determine how severe and permanent the water problems are. The findings of that report are expected to be released within the next two months.
Based on a report by CTV Regina’s Dale Hunter
