Centerville City officials have spent nearly six years searching for a site to build a new city cemetery. Although a 2021 voter-approved bond gave the council authority to spend up to $7 million on the project, they have had trouble locating a suitable site.

Now the need to find at least five acres for the proposed cemetery is becoming urgent: the current city cemetery is full, and those officials are anxious to provide a spot where local residents can be buried.

On Feb. 17 Mayor Clark Wilkinson gave the city council an update on how the search was going. In 2019 Wilkinson formed a cemetery exploratory group with several residents, city staff and two of the city council, he said. They talked with a local mortuary, Fruit Heights and Farmington to consider a joint venture but, for various reasons, none were interested. They also contacted The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding underutilized ball fields and reached out to several private landowners of parcels larger than five acres to no avail. 

One remaining option is to utilize 160 acres of city-owned land on the hillside directly east of the city, often referred to by local resident as Freedom Hills area or the Bonneville Shoreline trail area, but that might be unpopular with many residents because of how the hillside is used recreationally. 

Councilmember Rick Bangerter, who is new to the discussion, having been on the council only since January, argued that the hillside should remain under consideration, noting that a cemetery road could serve as a fire break and improve access for emergency responders. He also pointed to the public’s financial commitment to the project following the 2021 bond. 

“The majority voting in favor of doing this by putting their money where their mouth is... they were willing at that time to bond up to $7 million,” he said.

Proponents, including local excavation expert Rob Vandergrift, who had been asked to evaluate the site last year, also spoke in favor of that option arguing the site is stable and offers significant aesthetic value. 

“It has the potential in my opinion to be one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the state because of the setting,” Vandergrift said.

However, several council members expressed concerns that such development could invite further residential expansion on the foothills. 

“People don’t want the hillside touched,” Councilmember Robyn Mecham said. “I feel like we need to not be promoting any type of development up there... a cemetery would be something that might be that impetus for starting that trend.” 

Councilmember Gina Hirst noted the high cost of infrastructure, including water lines and snow removal for funeral access on steep terrain. She highlighted the conflict between the need for burial space and the desire for preservation. 

“People want a cemetery and they don’t want anything higher on the hillside. So people would be very concerned if we get a road up there,” Hirst said.

City Manager Brant Hanson addressed the long-term importance of managing any new burial space the city eventually acquires. 

“If we have a pretty strict policy like we do now, then it will last forever,” he said.

While the council previously chose not to fund a geotechnical study of the hillside due to cost and environmental concerns, some now suggested the idea should be “kept in consideration” as other options are weighed. 

Despite a lengthy discussion, no ideal option was found, leaving the proposed project in limbo still.

At the end of the meeting, the council moved into a closed session for what Wilkinson said would be an update about various properties the city has looked at for a cemetery site.