The Atmore City Council eased the financial burden of local families dealing with the loss of a loved one during Monday’s regular meeting by cutting costs for burial plots at the two city-owned graveyards nearly in half.

In approving ordinance 10-2012, the council dropped the price of burial plots at both Oak Hill Cemetery and Fairview Cemetery from $900 to $450 a piece for Atmore residents.

According to City Clerk Becca Smith, non-residential plot costs remained the same at $1,000, as did the costs of perpetual care and burial permits at $125 and $100 respectively.

The new prices are in dramatic contrast to prices in the City of Brewton, where plot costs at Union Cemetery will actually rise from $600 to $700 as of January, 1, according to Brewton City Clerk John Angel. Angel said the increase is the second since he joined the administration at a time when a plot cost $400. A major difference between the two cities’ policy, Brewton only sells their plots in 10×10 sections that include two plots and does not sell single gravesites. Angel said the cost, however, is a flat fee regardless of whether or not the buyer is a resident of the city.

In other business the council approved the following city council members for the varying committees: District 1 Councilman Webb Nall – Police Department Committee; District 2 Councilman Cornell Torrence – Streets, Sanitation and Beautification Committee; District 3 City Councilman Chris Walker – Fire Department and Cemetery Committee; District 4 City Councilwoman Susan Smith – Library and Education Committee; District 5 City Councilman Chris Harrison – Parks and Recreation Committee.