The county commissioners are discussing a switch from contracting with the William F. Young Funeral Home for morgue services to creating a new morgue that is operated as part of the county government.

The commissioners discussed the potential move at their Thursday meeting, said Commissioner Kevin Boozel.

Boozel said Coroner William F. Young III brought the matter up some time ago due to the county's growing population and deaths resulting from the opioid crisis.

“I think what we are realizing is that a county of this size has limited resources when using a private mortgage,” Boozel said.

He said the move is in the preliminary stages, meaning that data will be gathered to analyze the fiscal feasibility of creating a county morgue.

Young said he has been lobbying the commissioners for a county morgue for several years.

“A coroner's office doesn't mix well with a funeral home operation,” Young said.

This is an excerpt — find out more about what was discussed in Sunday's Butler Eagle.