Citing reduced revenues and increased operational costs, the city of Buckley decided to transfer management of the city cemetery to a private enterprise.

During their meeting of April 26, members of the Buckley City Council voted to transfer the management, operation and maintenance of the cemetery to Weeks Funeral Homes.

The transfer of cemetery responsibilities had been under consideration for 18 months and became effective May 11.

Weeks appears well positioned to assume the cemetery duties. The company has a similar agreement with the city of Enumclaw to operate its cemetery and maintains funeral homes in both communities.

The Buckley agreement calls for Weeks to assume all operation and maintenance of the Buckley cemetery and, in return, collect all revenues. The city of Buckley will retain ownership of the cemetery, along with associated facilities and equipment.

Buckley will continue to set fees for the sale of land in the platted portion of the cemetery, but Weeks will be responsible for establishing rates for other services.

Requests for cemetery services should be made through Weeks Funeral Home at 451 Cemetery Rd. Buckley; the phone number is 360-829-1171.