Council approved $10,000 for new cemetery designs during its regularly scheduled council meeting Feb. 25.
The existing graveyard has a lifespan of another five to six years since there are about 60 burial requests per year.
In order to get a new cemetery figured into the 2014 budget, designs need to be completed ahead of time.
The new cemetery will be located north of Innisfail next to C&E Trail. Clay may be required to fill a low-lying area on the site, administration noted in a report to council.
Design costs will deplete the cemetery reserve, noted Heather Whymark, director of corporate services. Council members discussed the need to top this up in future and will consider using burial rates to pay the tab.
Earlier in the meeting council had given the go-ahead to the installation of two concrete runners, which an administration report indicated would extend burial spaces available from 52 to 112 plots.
Both motions were approved unanimously.
