§ 35-8-212 — Authority to declare abandoned unoccupied lots; procedure; resale

Any city, town or special cemetery district may declare
abandoned the ownership of any unoccupied lots or parcels of
land in municipally owned cemeteries, created under and by
virtue of W.S. 35-8-201 through 35-8-211, inclusive, or any
special cemetery district whenever there has been no contact
with or knowledge of the owners, heirs, or assigns, as the case
may be, of such lots or parcels for more than twenty-five (25)
years. Prior to declaring such abandonment, notice shall be
served by registered mail at the last known address of such
owner, heirs, or assigns. In the event that the address cannot
be ascertained, notice shall be given by one (1) publication in
the official newspaper of the municipality or special cemetery
district in which the cemetery is located. Said notice shall
allow thirty (30) days for the owner, heirs, or assigns to
advise the city or town or special cemetery district of his
identity and address; and if he does so, the city or town or
special cemetery district shall not declare the abandonment.
Upon the failure of the owner, heirs, or assigns to so
communicate with the city or town, it may by resolution declare
such lots or parcels abandoned. Thereafter, it may resell such
lots or parcels, but shall place in trust an amount of money
equivalent to the original selling price of such lots or parcels
for payment to the owner, heirs, or assigns. Said trust fund
shall be placed in legal investments, and the interest received
therefrom shall annually be deposited to the city's or town's
general fund or the general fund of the special cemetery
district. Money received from the resale of such lots and
parcels and deposited in said trust fund may be withdrawn by the
cities or towns or the special cemetery district and placed in
their general fund if not claimed by the owner, heirs, or
assigns within twenty-five (25) years after being so deposited.
So long as such lots or parcels remain unsold, the owners,
heirs, or assigns may reclaim them by identifying themselves and
establishing their right to such lots or parcels.