The Cass County Board of Supervisors will have to wait until next week to approve revisions to the County’s Indigent Burial Policy. The Supervisors today (Wednesday) were set to approve recommend changes set in a final draft of the policy, but discussion revolving around the burial of an indigent persons’ cremains resulted in additional revisions to the policy. County General Relief Coordinator Teresa Kanning and VA Director Mitch Holmes were on hand for the discussion, as were two area funeral home directors. Prior to tweaking the policy for final approval during the Board’s meeting next week in Atlantic, Kanning read the policy as currently written.

It says the County will pay up to $2,000 for a burial or $1,500 for a cremation, which includes the mandatory Medical Examiner’s fee. In addition, up to $550 will be provided for the opening and closing of grave. A revision to the policy was made with regard to the disposition of cremains, whereby a maximum of $200 will be allowed for the burial or other disposition of the cremains, if the family chooses to go that route. 

Work on revising the policy has taken place over the past several weeks. A review of the final policy will be conducted at the end of 2012, to determine if changes need to be made for the years 2013 and beyond.