Crematoriums may be coming to Detroit Lakes after city council approve first reading of ordinance change

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Members of the Detroit Lakes city council approved the first reading of a change to the city’s B-3 business district that will allow funeral homes as a permitted use and crematoriums as a conditional use.

During the meeting, some Detroit Lakes residents expressed concerns that the crematorium would cause pollution and threaten lakes area air and waterways. But, James Beaton, general manager for David-Donehower Funeral and Cremation Services in Detroit Lakes, said, while he respected their opinions, they were wrong about their proposed crematorium causing air pollution.

“I can state that (the resident’s) claims on pollution are absolutely not substantiated by the research that we have done and by the company that we are using to put this equipment together,” said Beaton. “There has been a tremendous amount of research done on pollution and that is not a factor.”

Currently, he said, members of their Detroit Lakes team are travelling to Fergus Falls multiple times per week to perform cremations, which is becoming a more regular request from individuals seeking funeral arrangements.

“We are currently travelling to Fergus Falls to conduct cremation,” he said. “Forty miles one way. We’re travelling there four to five days per week, in all kinds of weather, at a great cost to the consumer.”

He added, when David-Donehower opened its new facility in 2012, the cremation rate in the area was under 40%. Today, he said, that cremation rate has increased to near 80%.

“We are listening to the families that are calling on us,” said Beaton. “And we feel that it’s in the best interests of those families that (cremation) service can be provided right here in this community.”

Multiple city council members also pointed out that the ordinance change does not approve any proposed facility, only the change to the city code. Any new cremation facility would need to go through a public hearing process at the city’s planning commission and community development committee before the city council acts on the proposal.

The city council unanimously passed the first reading of the ordinance change and the second reading is expected to be voted on during the city council’s next meeting on Aug. 8.