FARMINGTON -- The Farmington City Council recently voted 3-2 to approve a variance option on its cemetery restrictions, thanks to the influence of former Congressman Jim Hansen's wish to have a larger burial monument of his own. Hansen had asked the Farmington City Council if he could have a 44-inch headstone, which was considered too large by cemetery rules, out of respect for his title as a former U.S. Congressman.

Although the current policy states that newer monuments in the cemetery must have a height of no more than 36 inches, the majority of city council members eventually agreed to incorporate a variance option after Hansen's petition.

The now in-effect option allows an individual to add variance to cemetery rules if their request is thought to be reasonable enough by the council.

Farmington Mayor Scott Harbertson said the primary reason why the council started a policy on height restriction for newer graves was that the cemetery's property could be better preserved.

"Our ordinance that a monument could be no taller than 36 inches in height started about a year ago, and the main reason is because anything too tall would cause maintenance issues with the grass not getting enough water," Harbertson said. "Sprinklers hit the monument if it is too tall, and it causes the grass behind it to die because it can't get enough water coverage."

Councilwoman Paula Alder said there are three conditions that will be required of those who seek variance for graves.

"Jim Hansen already submitted a request that asked to add a variance policy to the current policy that stated how tall the monument can be, and any person may seek variance under three certain conditions that have to be met," she said. "The city council will look at the reasons for variance from the individuals and decide if it could be possible or not."

The variance conditions consist of three basic questions: "Is it a reasonable variance?" "Is it in harmony with the rest of the cemetery?" and "Is it consistent with the general intent of the rules?"

Councilman Larry Haugen said that although he is not completely against the variance option, he foresees more people making requests for special exceptions and possibly more damage to the cemetery's grounds.

"This variance option creates a case where everyone's going to want a bigger monument because if one person can get the option, everyone will be allowed to," he said. "We already have limited cemetery space and dead spots behind older headstones from water not getting anywhere behind them.

"They would have to revamp the water lines, which would create a hassle for the guy in charge of maintenance working on it."

The front of the larger monument proposed by Jim Hansen would include a picture of the American Flag, the title "United States Congressman 1981-2003" under his name "James V. Hansen."

Smaller plaques at the bottom will feature the names of both him and his wife, Ann B. Hansen, with their birth and death dates. The back of the gravestone would feature a picture of the Salt Lake Temple and the names of their five children.

"Hansen wanted to pattern his headstone after Governor Scott Matheson's, which was also 44 inches tall and had an eight-inch base," Harbertson said.

Hansen has yet to make his formal request before the Farmington City Council asking for additional inches to his headstone, and the council will either approve or disapprove according to a vote.

For more information call the Farmington City Offices at 451-2383 or visit www.farmington.utah.gov.



dradunich@davisclipper.com