People buying Scott City cemetery plot must first pay back city taxes

A new Scott City ordinance requires anybody who wants to buy a cemetery plot in Lightner Cemetery from Scott City to have no unpaid city taxes.

Scott City Ward 3 Councilman Robert Tyler said the city noticed it didn't have the ordinance on the books when in early November a plot was sold to a person who owed the city money.

"It's just an oversight on our part," Tyler said.

Tyler said he didn't know why people haven't had to pay back taxes before buying a cemetery plot but that the ordinance will help the city save money.

The ordinance also increases the cost of city cemetery plots for nonresidents from $200 to $300. effective Jan. 1. Residents must pay $100 for a plot in Lightner Cemetery.

Nonresidents should pay more because they don't pay city taxes, Tyler said.

The ordinance passed 6-1, with Ward 4 Councilman Norman Brandt voting against it. Tim Rushing and Kirk Lewis, from the second and third wards, respectively, didn't attend the meeting.

Brandt said many families owe the city tax money and that it might be hard for some of them to pay back taxes. For example, Brandt said, it might be hard for a widow dependent on her husband's income to pay her and her husband's back taxes if the amount was in the thousands of dollars.

Scott City clerk Cindy Uhrhan said she didn't think anyone has ever owed the city more than $1,000 in back taxes.