BOUNTIFUL—With increasing numbers of burials in the Bountiful City Cemetery, a number of improvements have been made and an expansion of the maintenance shop is now planned.

City Parks Director Brock Hill told city council that a lack of storage and yard space for current cemetery maintenance crews will lead to demolition of the existing rock house adjacent to the existing shop and maintenance area, which will then be expanded.

“We will remove the rock house, which is currently unsafe, along with its caved-in septic system, vinyl fence and rear landscaping,” he said. “The age and dilapidation of that building makes this necessary, along with the need to expand the shop.”

Hill said the current three-bay maintenance shop was built in the late 1970s, with a small shed used to hold soil for backfilling graves. The rock house was built in the 1950s and is used primarily for mower and turf maintenance equipment. 

Over the past few years, the cemetery has added a separate Children’s cemetery, a 48-space Urn Niche, the first phase of the Healing Gardens in connection with the Urn Niche, and finished landscaping of Plat R on the west side of the cemetery. Hill said Plat R will have approximately 2,450 plots available. He said there are an additional 313 single and 71 double plots also available elsewhere on the grounds. 

“Our current average rate of plot sales per year is 400,” he said. “At this rate it will be necessary to begin development in the east property of the cemetery in five-six years.”

Bountiful City purchased a large parcel of land east of 200 East a few years ago for cemetery expansion. 

Council approved a contract for REDD Engineering and Construction in the amount of $195,455.70 for the expansion of the maintenance shop area, along with removing the rock building.