TRUMAN–On Monday the Truman City Council heard from cemetery director, Faith Clow, about some concerns at Ridge Lawn Cemetery.

Clow said she had received a phone phone call about a month ago from someone who had purchased a stone from Blue Earth Monument and was not happy to hear that the city of Truman’s policy is $600 per headstone for installation when purchased elsewhere.

She said that the person said they had purchased their plot with the city about a decade ago and could not remember what the policy was. Clow asked whether the city could make a sign encouraging people to buy from Truman. She pointed out that a portion of the money goes into perpetual care.

“Some people bought these graves 20 years ago and we’re taking care of them, for what, the $250 they used to pay for a grave,” Clow said.

She pointed out that cemeteries cost a lot to upkeep but sometimes they can go a year without selling any graves so they have no income coming in. She asked the council whether it wanted to increase any costs and noted that the last time the cost was changed was in 2017.

“Right now we have a flat fee of $600. I’m suggesting $1,000 for a double and leave it at $600 for a single,” Clow said.

The council approved raising the cost to $1,000 for a double and $600 for a single effective June 1.

Next, Clow spoke briefly about matters pertaining to the Truman Swimming Pool.

“It sounds like a lot of the guards are coming back. We have two new ones who are going to take the training and two managers are coming back,” Clow said.

She said they’re thinking about offering swimming lessons again but does not know if all of the guards will be trained for it at opening time in June. The council discussed holding lessons later in the summer. Clow said more conversations will take place over the next few months.

Next, Derek Behrens with Bolton & Menk spoke to the council about some of its ongoing projects, including the Bau development. At the last meeting, the council decided to name the housing development Bau Court- Jones Addition.

Behrens asked whether the council was comfortable with the preliminary plat. Mayor Jake Ebert questioned the number of lots and after some discussion, the council approved the preliminary plat with the addition of two lots.

In other news, Greg Burkhardt of Burkhardt & Burkhardt provided the council with a clean, unmodified audit for 2023.