(a) When the body of a deceased person is found within the City limits of the municipal corporation and such person was not an inmate of a penal, reformation, benevolent or charitable institution of the State and such body is not claimed by any person for private interment or cremation at such person’s expense or delivered for the purpose of medical and surgical study or dissection in accordance with Ohio R.C. 1713.34, or whenever a claim is made that the City is liable for the interment, cremation or burial expense of any deceased person, the Director of Public Service shall determine if such person is an unclaimed or an indigent person based upon the investigation of any governmental entity or administration, or the combination of any governmental agency or administration and any private party or enterprise and thereafter shall either reject such claim or refer such claim to the City Auditor pursuant to the City’s obligations under the provisions of Ohio R.C. 5113.15.
(b) In the event the Service Director finds that the City is obligated under the provisions of Ohio R.C. 5113.15 to bury or cremate such decedent at the expense of the City he shall certify his findings to the City Auditor. The Auditor is hereby authorized to pay not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for all services rendered by a funeral director or other party to bury or cremate such deceased person in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Service Director and in accordance with the following schedule:
$500.00 for each adult person
$300.00 for each child under twelve years of age
$200.00 for a still birth funeral
(c) In the event any person legally authorized to do so requests that the body of any such decedent be buried by a particular funeral director, crematorium or buried in a particular cemetery not operated and maintained by and under the jurisdiction of the City, the Auditor may pay a total amount for services rendered by such funeral director or other party or by such cemetery or crematorium in conjunction with the preparation for and burial of such body not to exceed the fee schedule as specified in subsection (b) hereof with such expenses including but not limited to the furnishing of a casket, wood box, burial container, cremation and marker.
(d) In the event that any such deceased person as contemplated in this section is found to have assets, insurance or other benefits or allowances available for the payment of all or part of the expenses as contemplated herein, the City shall deduct that amount from the fee schedule as enumerated in subsection (b).
(e) In the event it is determined after the burial or cremation of any deceased person, and the payment of such expenses by the City, that such decedent had means, assets, insurance or other benefits or allowances available for the payment of all or part of such expenses including the cost of the lot and charges normally made for the services rendered in such burial, such proceedings shall be taken to recover such portion of the costs and expenses as may be authorized by law.
(f) The Municipality shall provide, at the grave of the person, or if the person’s cremated remains are buried, at the grave of the person’s cremated remains, a stone or concrete marker on which the person’s name and age, if known, and the date of death shall be inscribed.
(Ord. 020115. Passed 1-15-02.)
(Ord. 020115. Passed 1-15-02.)