A Letter from Temple Beth Shalom Co-Presidents,
Dee & Don Coplin

 

October 8, 2003

Dear Fellow Congregant,

 On Sunday November 9th, a meeting will be held to discuss the creation of Temple Beth Slalom's cemetery by committing to purchase 240 burial plots at the Capital Memorial Park. Historically this major step was taken before hiring a Rabbi or building a Synagogue.

We know how important it is to support each other in times of loss and grief. A congregational cemetery is another aspect of our shared concern for each other as members of Temple Beth Shalom. It represents not only a resting place for our loved ones who have died; it is also a repository of the history of our Temple and the memories of the lives we have shared. In time, our cemetery will display the heritage of our congregation and the legacy of its member families. Those who visit the cemetery will be able to recall, with love, those buried there, and recognize that ours is a congregation that provides for its members in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death-for such is the way of a living, lasting congregation. We encourage you to read the proposal information and come to the meeting.

Congregational Meeting 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday November 16, 2003
ECP Multipurpose Room
DJCC

B'Shalom,
Dee and Don

 

Proposal for Temple Beth Shalom Cemetery

BACKGROUND

For the past 18 months, the Temple Beth Shalom Cemetery Committee has been investigating various options for a Temple Beth Shalom Burial Garden. Serious and extended discussions were held with both Cook Walden regarding the cemetery in Pflugerville and with The City of Austin regarding its cemetery on Hancock Drive near 2222 and MoPac.

The TBS Board has weighed the options on both and made a decision to propose that Temple Beth Shalom enter into a contract with The City of Austin for an exclusive burial garden at Capital Memorial Park on Hancock Drive.

 The decision was based on the following considerations:

• Cost per plot

• The number of plots we were obligated to buy

• The location of the cemetery

• TBS' financial obligation - initial and long term

 

PROPOSAL

 The initial term of the contract would be for 240 burial plots purchased over 25 years. Near the conclusion of the 25 year term, Temple Beth Shalom would have the option to purchase an additional 240 burial plots over 25 additional years. This process could repeat itself until we purchase approximately 1,000 spaces.

YEAR	NUMBER OF SPACES PER YEAR
One	30
2 to 5	24
6 to 10	25
11 to 16	42
17 to 20	57
21 to 25	62
Total of 240 spaces
Notes: 5 of these spaces will be bought immediately, and the remaining 25 will be paid for during the initial 12 months at 0% interest financed by the City of Austin.  A minimum of 2 to 3 spaces must be purchased every year.

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT:

Location:

Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, Hancock Drive

Managed by an independent contractor under the direction of the City of Austin

Initial First Year Purchase:

First 5 spaces would be paid for in full when the contract is signed.

25 more burial plots would be purchased during the first 12 months at 0% interest with 20% down payment (for a total of 30 plots).

Each burial plot will be purchased by TBS at the current City price- Currently $1,180

After the Initial Purchase

An additional 210 burial plots would be purchased over 24 years at the prevailing market price

Any time during the first 20 years, TBS has the option to purchase additional plots

TBS would have a "first right of refusal" on contiguous land

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Temple Beth Shalom will pay to

• Survey the land - $8,000 (estimate) - one time fee

• Install an irrigation system - $8,000 (estimate) - one time fee

• Temple Beth Shalom will provide for

• Landscaping - $ 4,000 (estimate) - one time fee

• Ornamental entry point - $5,000 (estimate) - one time fee

The TBS Cemetery Committee has analyzed the pricing structure and has shown that by charging $2000 per plot for the first year and $2500 per plot thereafter, the cemetery will not require any financing from the congregational budget. This assumes that 30 plots will be sold initially and 5 plots per year will be sold in subsequent years.

CONCLUSION:

The Temple Beth Shalom Burial Garden will be managed by a new (to be formed) TBS Cemetery Committee in conjunction with the rules and policies of The City of Austin. This would allow Temple Beth Shalom to create a unique burial location near the Dell Jewish Community Campus for use by its members, family and friends. We will develop this burial garden to reflect the warmth and caring that characterizes Temple Beth Shalom.

In the coming months, the new Cemetery Committee will be making its recommendation on the policies that will be used to manage the cemetery. Plots will be sold at a price that will enable the committee to continue purchasing additional plots for the future and to recoup our initial $25,000 in expenses. In addition to the price of a plot, the family of the deceased will incur the following burial expenses:

• Funeral home fees

• Burial casket

• Grave opening and closing

• City required concrete grave liner

• Grave Marker

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL.