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11.C.2. WINTER BEACH CEMETERY LAND PURCHASE - WINTER BEACH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION (WOODLEY HOLDING COMPANY, TOM DEBERRU The Board reviewed a Memorandum of December 6, 1999: Date: December 6,1999 To: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners Thru: James E. Chandler, County Administrator From: Thomas W. Frame, General Services Director--/ dt % 4&w-�. Subject. Winter Beach Cemetery Land Purchase BACKGROUND: Winter Beach Cemetery has requested the County for several years to provide additional land for expansion purposes. Traditionally, the cemetery has provided burials for county residents and for indigent burials. The current cemetery -was established in 1908 as a donation for Felix Poppell. The grant of property was restricted to the burial plots being provided to residents at no costs. Over the course of time between resident burials and indigent burials, most of the burial plots have been exhausted. Currently, less than 300 burials remain that has not been granted to residents. These sites are available and are now only assigned on the basis on need. The number of actual indigent burials is unknown due to poor record keeping over the earlier years and because the metal marker used have deteriorated or become lost. It is estimated that there is in excess of 150 indigent burials on site. In August 1984, the Winter Beach Cemetery Association wrote the Board of County Commissioners and advised them unless the County provided additional land as it apparently had said it would in 1977, there would be no burials except for families already designated for burials within the cemetery. Many attempts were made to find suitable land the could be exchanged for recreation land which had. been previously dedicated for cemetery uses, but which could not be used due to federal land use restrictions when the property was acquired from the federal goverment (Hobart Recreational Area). After many attempts top find suitable exchange property failed, the County closed the case and advised the State accordingly. Chapter 245 F.S. states that if a. body goes unclaimed, the County is required to contact the State Anatomical Board to determine if the body is needed for medical purposes assuming the body is in proper condition. If not, then the disposal becomes the responsibility of the County to resolve. Currently, the Anatomical Board receives enough bodies within the area near the Anatomical Board such that it has no need generally. DECEMBER 14, 1999