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Chairman Bird asked if there is any requirement for the <br />County to provide a public cemetery or be responsible for <br />indigent burial. <br />Attorney Vitunac advised that we don't have to have a <br />cemetery, but we are responsible for indigent burial or <br />cremation. <br />Leon Blanton came before the Board speaking for Winter Beach <br />Cemetery Association to stress the benefit this cemetery offers <br />the people of the county. He noted that the Board has been <br />hearing about this item since 1974. Mr. Blanton felt that the <br />real concern is not the indigents, and they don't keep records on <br />indigents; they just bury people who are dead. He did agree that <br />proper records were not kept when their forefathers took care of <br />this, but that has been improved on. He further pointed out that <br />it was the Commission's predecessors who made these agreements <br />and promises to the Association, and although it is not <br />absolutely required that this Board go along with what a former <br />Board did, he believed this Board has made commitments in the <br />meantime. He could not understand why this has taken 17 years, <br />but believed that when it was pointed out this land was to be <br />used for recreational purposes only is when the problem arose. <br />Mr. Blanton hoped that the Board can settle this today and noted <br />that if they do say no, he can live with it since he already has <br />his plot, but he is concerned about the future generations. He <br />urged the Board to keep their commitment. <br />Chairman Bird asked who actually owns the cemetery land, and <br />Mr. Blanton advised that it is the Winter Beach Cemetery Associa- <br />tion which was formed in 1931. Before that there was no <br />Association; this was all done by volunteer work and still is. <br />Mr. Blanton stressed that they do not offer perpetual care, but <br />they do have enough money by donation that they can keep the <br />cemetery in pretty fair shape. <br />Chairman Bird believed if we are having a problem coming up <br />with matching options, one of the options is to come up with less <br />than 19 acres, and Administrator Chandler confirmed that reducing <br />the acreage and retransmitting this has been suggested. <br />Commissioner Eggert stated that she personally was very torn <br />between two commitments - one to the cemetery and one to the <br />taxpayers in general where you are, in essence, asking for <br />$150,000 of their land to be exchanged here. <br />Chairman Bird pointed out that it is going for a public <br />purpose, however. <br />37 <br />BOOK 03 NkliL'J"k <br />