Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
Published January 05, 2008 10:34 pm - About 25 people attended a question-and-answer session Saturday for a proposed crematorium at Parker Mortuary, 1502 S. Joplin Ave. Mortuary holds Q&A on crematory issue By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com About 25 people attended a question-and-answer session Saturday for a proposed crematorium at Parker Mortuary, 1502 S. Joplin Ave. After more than an hour’s worth of presentation and some questions from a group of neighbors who said they are opposed to the crematorium because of the possibility of harmful materials — including mercury and carbon monoxide — being expelled into the air, Parker Mortuary owner Tom Keckley urged those in attendance to avoid being swayed by “scare tactics.” “I applaud you guys for putting so much effort into bird-dogging our operation,” Keckley said. “But the facts I looked at say you don’t need to be worried.” But Ryan Jackson, a neighbor and local businessman, disagreed. “Emissions are emissions,” he said. “No matter how small it is.” Keckley said the mortuary wants to install a dual-chamber crematory, which will burn at a temperature of 1,500 degrees, and a refrigeration unit in a portion of a mostly unoccupied warehouse adjacent to the mortuary’s main building. The reason for the crematory, Keckley said, is that the funeral home has seen a dramatic increase in the number of cremations requested by families in the last 20 years, and that the cost of operating its own crematorium versus paying a third-party would be negligible. He opened his presentation with emissions statistics on crematories from a 1999 Environmental Protection Agency study. According to data Keckley provided during the meeting, a crematorium’s emissions of harmful elements such as mercury and carbon monoxide are well within the safety standards set by the EPA. Keckley said concerns about the cost of constructing a new building and paying for security were two reasons the mortuary preferred to have the crematorium on site, rather than at another location. “We have staff here 24-7,” he said. “I don’t want to put a lot of money into a building I can’t monitor.” When Jackson reiterated a proposed lease agreement of $1 per year for 99 years on a half-acre of land his company owns in an industrial zone near 13th Street and Maiden Lane, Keckley said no thanks. “We couldn’t afford to do it,” Keckley said. “It’s a generous offer, but it just wouldn’t work for us.” 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Hundreds served at churches, shelters in Joplin area Budget cuts, enrollment declines take toll at some Kansas schools PSU planning forums to discuss latest round of Kansas budget cuts |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Locals react with dismay to new breast cancer screening guidelines w/ new cancer screening recommendations and American Cancer Society response
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
