Photo by Bob Bakken/South ReporterA view of the historic Hill Crest Cemetery in Holly Springs. City officials are presenting a proposal to adjust plot and burial rates, which now are among the lowest in North Mississippi.
Holly Springs proposes cemetery rate hike
Parks and Cemetery Director Darrel Thomas presented a proposal to adjust plot and burial rates at Hill Crest Cemetery. Thomas explained that Holly Springs’ rates ($800 for plot and weekday burial) had become the lowest in North Mississippi, attracting out-of-town buyers from as far as Memphis and threatening future capacity.
“Our cemetery rate is the cheapest in North Mississippi. We have a lot of out-of-town citizens that come and use our cemetery just because of how cheap our rates are,” Thomas told the board. Under his proposal, plot fees would rise from $500 to $700, weekday opening/closing from $300 to $500, and weekend opening/closing from $350 to $550--bringing standard burial costs to $1,226 (including the county’s $26 filing fee) to align with neighboring Byhalia and Olive Branch.
In other business from the Sept. 15 board meeting:
City Engineer Larry Britt presented quotes for the West Boundary Drainage Improvement Project, which targets 240 feet of deteriorating corrugated metal pipe causing backyard leaks. The board voted to accept the lowest bid of $73,965 from Pelican Underground LLC to install a high-tensile concrete invert lining.
City Clerk Jerrica Jones reported that the city received $389,722.78 in restricted Modernization Act revenue--representing 389% of the expected budget-- which is designated exclusively for street repairs, drainage work, and street equipment. “We can use the Modernization Act monies... to repair your infrastructure, purchase new infrastructure, or address storm water issues,” Jones confirmed.
The board debated the city’s $921,285.75 tourism fund balance. Aldermen pressed for these restricted funds to be deployed for urgent park maintenance, including lighting repairs at Ida B. Wells Park and the $8,000 generator transfer switch installation for the multi-purpose building warming center.
“We shouldn’t have any issues with our parks when you have tourism funds... and a $900,000 balance,” Alderman Andre Jones stated. “It’s not a reserve cash fund. If we’ve got some issues going on in parks and recs, we need to get that done.”
The board approved $36,943.52 in general claims, four municipal court settlement payments to the state totaling $21,785.75, and accepted the resignation of Fire Department employee Jaydan Williams.