At this week's Montgomery County Commission meeting, commissioners heard from Shawn Shomaker with Webb and Roderick Funeral Services and Montgomery County Coroner Anne Hogsett.

 

The pair were on hand to discuss the county's options when dealing with unclaimed human remains. Shomaker told commissioners that the funeral home holds remains for thirty days to give others the opportunity to claim them, but added that they could not keep them indefinitely. Hogsett says the funeral home is correct to institute a time limit.

 

The county also considered whether the best option for unclaimed remains is burial or cremation. Cremation is more expensive but burial requires more space. The City of Caney recently informed Montgomery County that they would no longer be able to bury unclaimed individuals in Caney due to a lack of room. Hogsett says her signature is required for cremation in the event an autopsy is required.

 

There was no decision made as the county continues to investigate its options.

 

In other business, the county approved the purchase of a new heavy-duty printer for use in mass mailings at a cost of $13,000.