AN ORDINANCE
NO.
An ordinance repealing Columbus Code Section 9-3 pertaining to pauper burials
and replacing it with a new Code Section 9-3 providing for cremations and
burials for the indigent at City expense; and for other purposes.
___________________________
THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1.
Section 9-3 pertaining to pauper burial is hereby repealed in its entirety and
a new Section 9-3 is hereby adopted in its place.
Sec. 9-3. Disposition of the Remains of Indigent Persons.
In order to satisfy the requirements of O.C.G.A. ?36-12-5 and O.C.G.A.
?31-21-21, pertaining to deceased indigents, Columbus will undertake the
following obligations. The determination of indigency will be made by the
Columbus Office of the Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and
Children Services (DFACS). Once that determination is certified by DFACS and
provided to the cemetery sexton, Columbus will offer the following options to
dispose of the remains:
1. Where the person asserting the right to direct the disposition of the body
under O.C.G.A. ? 31-21-7 (?the Authorizing Agent?) authorizes cremation of the
indigent, he or she must authorize the funeral home to release the cremains
into the custody of the cemetery sexton in lieu of any other direction which
might otherwise be made pursuant to O.C.G.A. ?43-18-80. The cemetery sexton
will accept all indigent cremains for any indigent so certified by DFACS for
storage in a vault. Upon notification from the sexton of acceptance of the
cremains and certification from the funeral home that all necessary steps to
apply for a Death Certificate have been completed, the Director of Public Works
shall pay the funeral home which provided the cremation service a fee of $600.
2. Where burial is requested by the Authorizing Agent, the cemetery sexton will
provide a grave space and grave opening in the pauper burial ground. All
indigents shall be buried at a time and date approved by the sexton. The
funeral home which has custody of the body, and provides for its transportation
and burial will receive a payment in the amount of $400 upon certification to
the Director of Public Works from the sexton that the burial is complete and
certification of the funeral home that all necessary steps to apply for a Death
Certificate have been completed.
3. Once the remains of an individual have been tendered to the City for burial
or storage pursuant to paragraphs 1 or 2 above, any requests for the release of
cremains, the marking of a burial plot, or the disinterment of a body for
burial elsewhere will be made to the cemetery sexton who shall require
reimbursement of any funds expended by the City in connection with the initial
burial or cremation as well as any additional costs to be incurred by the City
in accommodating the requested alternative disposition; provided however, the
sexton will have the authority to waive some or all the required fees upon an
administrative investigation and a finding that a full or partial waiver is
warranted by the financial circumstances of the Authorizing Agent requesting
such treatment and other compelling circumstances.
SECTION 2.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance
are hereby repealed.
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Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
22nd day of January, 2013, introduced a second time at a regular meeting of
said Council held on the ______ day of _________________, 2013, and adopted at
said meeting by the affirmative vote of ________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting____________.
Councilor Baker voting____________.
Councilor Barnes voting___________.
Councilor Davis voting____________.
Councilor Henderson voting________.
Councilor Huff voting_____________.
Councilor McDaniel voting_________.
Councilor Pugh voting_____________.
Councilor Thomas voting___________.
Councilor Woodson voting__________.
______________________________ ______________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON
CLERK MAYOR
Attachments
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