[Ord. No. 20-0245, 4-27-2020]
A.Â
The Jefferson County, Missouri, Council hereby recognizes the need
for and hereby authorizes burials of a person deemed to be a pauper
and/or indigent as determined by the County as follows:
1.Â
The County shall, on an annual budgetary basis and at other
times as required, allow for such sums as it shall think reasonable,
for the funeral expenses of any person who shall die within the County
without means to pay for such funeral expenses; and
2.Â
The County shall purchase land when needed, upon Council approval,
to provide for pauper burials and shall continue to maintain land
and/or cemeteries currently being used for this purpose; and
3.Â
A person deemed to be a "pauper" or "indigent" shall be a deceased
person who died in Jefferson County and who has been deemed, at the
sole discretion of the County, as someone who has no sufficient property,
assets or familial relations to furnish themselves a proper burial;
and
4.Â
The Jefferson County Public Works staff in conjunction with
the County Counselor shall assess and determine indigent or pauper
status to determine whether means to provide for burial services shall
be available. Resources assessed shall include, but not be limited
to, the estate of the deceased, funeral allowances provided by social
security, V.A. or any other public or private benefit due the deceased,
or if any family member or other person is required by law to provide
for the burial of the deceased or is able to so provide; and
5.Â
The County shall take whatever steps or actions are necessary
to notify any person, State agency and/or the State Anatomical Board
as required by law; and
6.Â
The County shall take steps to obtain a commitment from licensed
morticians to provide burial services in accordance with the standards
set by the County, for a fee specified and agreed to by the mortician
and the County and subject to budgetary considerations for the same.
[Ord. No. 20-0245, 4-27-2020]
The County Executive, Public Works Staff or their designees
are authorized to take whatever steps are necessary and to execute
any and all documents and take whatever administrative actions are
necessary to carry out the intent of this Article pursuant to the
authority granted by this Article.
