ORDER NO. 30503 AUTOPSY TRANSPORTATION AND PAUPER CREMATION CHARGES Came to be heard this the 10th day of September, 2007, with a motion made by Commissioner Letz, seconded by Commissioner Williams. The Court unanimously approved by vote of 4-0-0 to: Approve the transport fee for autopsies to be raised to $350, and county cremations to be increased to $750, effective October 1, 2007. ~ Os~ 3 ~,3 COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND TEN (10) COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT MADE BY: Judge Tinley MEETING DATE: September 10, 2007 OFFICE: County Judge TIME PREFERRED: SUBJECT: Consider, discuss and take appropriate action to on autopsy transportation and pauper cremation charges paid to funeral service providers. (Judge Tinley /Gene Allen) EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: Judge Tinley ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS RQUEST RECEIVED ON: 5:00 PM previous Tuesday @ .M. All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court. September 5, 2007 Dear Judge and Commissioners, On behalf of Grimes Funeral Chapels and Kerrville Funeral Home, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your efforts in the jobs that each of you do. We also thank you for allowing us to come before you and presenting material for your consideration. In our ongoing efforts to serve the citizens of Kerrville, Kerr County, and the surrounding areas, we are constantly faced with many challenges each day, and some of those challenges are greater than others. We are no different than any other business or a government entity in the fact that we are continually battling rising costs related to the many services that we provide to the community. Many of the costs that we monitor on an ongoing basis are: increases in labor cost, employee health care, automobiles, automobile insurance, automobile fuel, professional liability insurance, property insurance, property maintenance, utilities, and last but not least, substantial increases in property taxes on our business properties as well as personal properties. All of these items mentioned are results of economic factors beyond our control that have been felt by businesses and individuals nationwide. These events make it necessary for us to come before you and ask for consideration in making some minor adjustments in the payment structure of a couple of areas in which we serve the county. Please find below the statistics of costs incurred by the county for these areas of concern. Year 2007 (thru August 1 S) Autopsies: (19) $38,000 Avg. Cost $2000 Transport: (21) $ 4,830 Avg. Cost $ 230** Cty. Cremations: (1) $ 650 Avg. Cost $ 650 Year 2006 (Total for Year) * Autopsies: (31) $62,000 Avg. Cost $2000 Transport: (30) $ 6,900 Avg. Cost $ 230** Cty. Cremations: (2) $1,250 Avg. Cost $ 625 When we came before the commissioner's court several months ago, we had asked that the court consider a request for an increase in two areas provided for by the funeral homes. Please find the list below as to the requested consideration. Transport: $350** an increase of $2,520 over scheduled costs for the current year line item. Cty. Cremations $750 an increase of $100 over scheduled costs for the current year line item. When we are requested to use a crash bag for preservation of evidence purposes, we have charged the normal rate of $125 for this item. We are not asking for an increase in this area. When one of our firms receives an individual that needs approval for county payment on cremation, that individual remains in a refrigeration unit at the funeral home until approval can be obtained. The normal cost for refrigeration is $75 per day. In the past, we have experienced a period of up to three weeks worth of refrigeration with no compensation. Both firms have limited refrigeration space, and are requesting an ongoing effort to reduce that time span to ease the over crowding issues, and obvious additional expense incurred by the firm. We wish to thank you in advance for your consideration in regards to these matters. Our firms look forward to continued successful relations that we have enjoyed throughout the years with the court in serving the residents of our county and area. Best Regards, Johnny Grimes President Grimes Funeral Chapels Gene Allen President Kerrville Funeral Home **This cost includes time spent waiting in Austin for autopsy to be completed. *Statistics obtained from county auditors office for purposes of this report only.