Crematorium equipment moved from Navy Yard City site

Residents of the Navy Yard City woke up Monday to what many are calling a pleasant surprise.

Early Monday morning a crane and tractor-trailer pulled into the proposed site of the Kass Crematorium and begin removing equipment from the building.

“They pulled out the oven and all of the body boxes,” said Daniel Glaser, who lives less 60 feet from the crematorium’s property line. “They had hundreds of body boxes and other stuff that they loaded on to the semi.”

Glaser said the Kass family attempted to do it early in the morning to avoid attracting attention from neighbors.

However, as early as last Friday neighbors said they noticed a dumpster being placed on the property and work crews in the building throughout the weekend.

When he began taking pictures of the crane and truck, the Kasses were visibly upset, Glaser said.

“When I stepped one foot on to the property, Mr. Kass told me to get off his property or he would have me arrested for trespassing,” he said.

Once the load was secured, the truck pulled out and headed east on Highway 16, he said.

“We are guarded about the situation, but we’re happy he pulled it out of here,” he said.

The incident is the latest in the on-going controversy surrounding the proposed crematory site.

Work had begun on the crematory before neighbors discovered what was being built and began the fight against it.

When neighbors raised the issue with the county, it was discovered the permits were issued to Kass Funeral Home owners Kent and Mary Kass without a public hearing The city and school district have also joined the neighborhood in their opposition to the crematorium.

The hearing examiner is scheduled to issue a ruling on the site in the near future, but has not done so yet, said Karen Ashcraft of the Kitsap County hearing examiner’s office.

“We have worked for years to clean up this neighborhood and make it a child friendly neighborhood,” Glaser said. “We don’t want this crematory here.”

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