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 Money received from the resale of such lots and parcels and deposited in said trust fund may be withdrawn by the cities or towns or the special cemetery district and placed in their general fund if not claimed by the owner, heirs, or assigns within twenty-five (25)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.