Scio questions responsibility for paying indigent burial bills

The village of Scio discussed at length the issue of taking responsibility for burying indigent people after receiving a second bill linked to a deceased indigent person, raising concerns among council members.

Fiscal Officer Renea Riesen said the arrival of another cremation bill prompted the renewed discussion and questions about whether the village had any options. Village Administrator Jason Tubaugh asked whether the village’s ordinance required prior notification. Riesen said the responsibility “falls on us,” citing the General Assembly.

“It also shows that there has to be an affidavit of indigency,” Riesen told council.

Tubaugh noted that a similar issue surfaced previously when someone died in Akron and a bill was sent to the village, but that one was rejected. Riesen added that if a deceased individual has a Scio address and receives mail there, the village may be liable.

Council moved on briefly before returning to the topic later in the meeting, when Village Solicitor Jack Felgenhauer continued raising concerns.

“Yeah, I don’t know how they’re just declaring people indigent and residents of Scio all of a sudden,” Felgenhauer said. “You’ll get one of these once every 20 years and you got two of them in 20 days?”

Council member Jeanne Edwards asked whether the bill could be returned with a refusal to pay. Felgenhauer said the village would need proof regarding residency. Riesen said she had received no documentation with the second bill, though the assistant coroner confirmed the address of the first indigent individual.

“And what’s to stop us from being flooded with these requests without more proof?” Edwards asked, noting that no one on council recognized the second individual’s name.

“Oh, we definitely have proof of this person, but nobody here recognizes the name,” Mayor James Clark said.

Felgenhauer said he would investigate the matter further, and council moved on to other business.