County Commissioner Mike Joyner failed in his effort to allow burial of a Williston man.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Levy County Commissioner Mike Joyner was turned down by his fellow board members Tuesday when he requested permission to allow the burial of a Williston man in an unapproved family cemetery.

            Joyner said the man might not live through next week and he wanted the board’s permission to allow the burial with the understanding the needed permit would come later.

            He said the body would be exhumed from the burial plot if regulations weren’t followed the family.

            County Attorney Anne Bast Brown urged the board to take no formal action on the matter. The board agreed to follow her advice.

            Commission Chairman Matt Brooks, who represents Williston on the board, found the thought of exhuming the body unacceptable.

            “I don’t even want to entertain that thought,” Brooks said.

            “I suggest you don’t do any action at all,” Brown responded.

            Brooks said he understood why Joyner was making the request. He said he was contacted by the family late last week and understands the sense of urgency.  He said he wished there was some way to honor the family’s wishes.

            “I don’t know if there is a timeline it usually takes, or if we can speed up the process, but I do not want to entertain digging up someone’s loved one. I know these people are going to do the right thing. There’s 100 percent no doubt in my mind,” Brooks said.

            Joyner repeated his request to allow the burial to go forward.

            “Whatever problems come up, I’ll face it,” he said.

            His request was denied.

            Joyner made the request as a non-agenda item in an emergency meeting of the county commission. The meeting was called to discuss reopening county parks, libraries, and courts closed by the coronavirus shutdown.

            County Coordinator Wilbur Dean said the family has developed a site plan and is working on obtaining the survey from the surveyor.

            “It’s not like they’re not a good way through the process. They’ve followed it; they’re working on it,” Dean said.

            Brown said a family cemetery would need board approval for a special exception permit. Public hearings would be required to meet the requirements of the county regulations.

            Commissioner John Meeks said parking would be a requirement. Brown added that perpetual care would also be needed.

            Earlier, Meeks said he thought he recalled a similar situation in the past, but “not to his extreme level,” where a family was given the nod to go ahead with a burial.

            “We had preliminarily approved it on condition that everything, all the guidelines set forth was followed; if they weren’t, those people were going to be ordered to exhume the body and bury it properly in a cemetery. I don’t know that we can do it today but I think we can give a nod with the understanding it will have to be followed or they will have to exhume the body and place it because there are a lot of stipulations if I remember from the past; you have to have a parking area designated,” Meeks said.  

            Brown said her memory of the situation Meeks described didn’t involve the board giving approval of any preliminary action.

            “That was done at the staff level and the process still continued and the board had the application in the course of hearings and after the Planning Commission looked at it. Whatever activities went on ahead of time did not involve the board, if my memory serves me correctly. The board wasn’t aware of anything going on out at that particular junction,” Brown said.

            Brooks said the Williston man the board was discussing is deserving of respect.

            “We have a long time resident who has put a lot into the community and deserves a respective burial and the wishes of the family. Move as quickly as you can,” Brooks said to Dean.

            “As fast as humanly possible to actually follow through with that statement,” Meeks added.

            Brooks announced there would be no action taken. He leaned over and told Joyner,” Thanks for bringing it.”

            “I’ve had my say,” Joyner responded, leaning over to look at Brooks.

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Board of County Commission Emergency Meeting May 26, 2020; Posted May 28, 2020