To address ongoing issues with rusting and deterioration, the city of Bryan has updated its rules to discontinue the use of metal benches in city cemeteries.
The gist
According to a news release, Bryan City Council approved an ordinance in July to change the rules for the material of cemetery benches. The agenda material states five reasons for the removal, including:
Safety: Unstable foundations, rusted or deteriorated metal benches with sharp edges, lightweight materials susceptible to wind and improperly placed benches create risks of potential injury and trip hazards.
Maintenance: Additional fixed objects increase mowing and landscaping labor, complicate grave-digging and monument installation and require more pest control efforts.
Infrastructure protection: Benches and anchoring methods can damage underground utilities, light poles, trash receptacles and other cemetery infrastructure while limiting equipment access.
Liability: Routine maintenance activities can result in damage to privately owned benches, and unsecured benches may damage neighboring property.
Administrative efficiency: Staff time devoted to permit reviews, enforcement, encroachment issues and subjective design approvals has become increasingly burdensome and is expected to grow as cemetery capacity increases.
Any new benches in the cemeteries must be constructed of natural stone such as granite, marble or limestone.
Major takeaways
The city is giving owners of the metal benches until next July to remove or dispose of the benches. If owners do not dispose of the benches themselves, the city will remove all benches not in compliance with the new ordinance.
