CHRISTIANSBURG -- Unlike most of us, Ann Carter knows the exact date when she will rest in peace: Jan. 1, 2008.

After months of waffling, Christiansburg Town Council voted Tuesday to take over Sunset Cemetery, a town landmark and Carter's millstone for the past 18 years.

On Jan. 1, the cemetery will officially belong to the town.

The Christiansburg Cemetery Corporation, a nonprofit group that has managed Sunset for years, announced plans to dissolve in May. Carter, a councilwoman as well as the cemetery board member in charge of daily operations, said the aging volunteer directors were tired and wanted to discontinue their work . She asked the town to take the cemetery, a business that made a $20,000 profit last year and is expected to be viable for the next 50 years.

"Now is the time to step up," Councilman Mike Barber said Tuesday as another intense discussion followed his and Councilman Brad Stipes' recommendation that the town take the cemetery. The two were appointed to serve on an ad hoc committee to study the issue in June.

Stipes said all avenues for ownership transfer have been investigated. Montgomery Museum, a nonprofit group that had expressed interest in taking over the cemetery in September, voted not to pursue the matter at its last meeting. The group wanted a guaranteed town supplement of $15,000 to $20,000 before taking the cemetery and decided not to proceed without the town's support, which council members had expressed reservations about.

Stipes said the town's takeover would likely result in an annual cemetery operating cost ranging from $100,000 to $150,000, a rough estimate provided by Town Manager Lance Terpenny.

Councilman Dan Canada bristled.

"I think we need some more information," he said. "What right do we have to commit the citizens of Christiansburg to a business that we don't know what it will cost? Why do we have to jump on this right now?"

Said Stipes: "We've been around the barn four or five times on this. Councilman Barber and I are comfortable presenting this [recommendation] to you."

"We've got three months to come up with an effective plan for the cemetery and I think we can do that," Barber added. "It is our moral obligation as a town to see that this is well run."

Mayor Richard Ballengee supported the committee's recommendation.

"I know some of you have very strong feelings about using taxpayer money for the cemetery," he said. "But I know of no other issue that has generated so much interest."

Ballengee, as well as some council members, said public input on the issue has been in favor of taking the cemetery.

In the end, Canada voted with the rest of the council.

"I'm all for the commitment," Canada said. "Under no circumstances am I backing away from that commitment."

Because of her affiliation with the cemetery, Carter abstained from the vote.

On Wednesday, she said she was relieved after worrying about the fate of Sunset -- where she plans to be buried next to her late husband's grave -- for a very long time.

"As long as we have a town, the cemetery will be run," she said. "I'm sure Mr. Terpenny will make sure it's run well."

Carter said she thought the operational estimate was on the high end. The cemetery corporation has been reimbursing the town for maintenance costs that run about $60,000 per year and still turning a profit. She said she doesn't believe the town will have to fund a full-time position to do what she does.

Barber said Wednesday he was certain the council made the right decision.

"I just think it's time," he said. "Sooner or later, the town will have to take it over. I would rather take it over while it's in good financial shape and while Ann's still around and willing to help."

Carter, who just turned 70, was tending to cemetery business Wednesday. She said she wanted to help make the transfer of ownership a smooth one. She will give the town her personal computer with all the cemetery records and help train a manager, she said.

To ensure that the town can operate the cemetery in the most cost-effective way, Barber predicted changes in management.

"That's been the best deal in town for years," he said of Sunset's burial fees. "We'll probably have to go up some on fees. I think we'll look into putting together a committee from the outside to help with this thing."