The College Station city council is told that state law does not allow pet ashes in city cemetery columbariums

This podcast contains comments from the June 26, 2025 College Station city council meeting.College Station city council members are told that state law does not allow pet ashes in city cemetery columbariums.The update during the council's June 26th meeting came two weeks after a woman asked the council to reinterpret the city ordinance.On June 14th, Lisa Burton wanted to place in her mother's columbarium, the ashes of her late mother's cat.City attorney Adam Falco said state law restricts municipal cemeteries to human remains.Mayor John Nichols turned down councilman David White's request to revisit the request, citing the city attorney's opinion.Nichols also said he hoped city staff will work with Burton "to encourage her to find an appropriate way to honor her mother. And I think that will be possible."The mayor also said staff had contacted Burton with the legal opinion. Burton told WTAW News her only contact with city staff was the day after she made the request. Burton said she learned of the legal opinion last Friday (June 27) when she contacted councilman White.