Joe Scott, who identifies himself as a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, has started an online petition to stop the bidding process for the veterans memorial planned for the front of Maplewood City Hall.
“For me personally, I am starting this petition because I ultimately support the building of Veteran’s memorial. But I expect it to be done properly. That means designed with input from veterans, reflective of the city of Maplewood and its citizens, and within the allotted budget. This project does not meet any of these requirements,” Scott says.
The memorial’s estimated cost is $140,000. As of Friday afternoon 15 had signed.
While I can agree that City Hall needs some curb appeal, doing that and calling it a Veterans Memorial because you stuck additional flags in it is a farce. That area is completely open to the summer heat, winter weather and the traffic noise from Manchester Road making it a poor location for anyone who wants to pay their respects. The location is also out of the area where residents or visitors would normally be. I’d rather see a memorial near downtown even if it takes the form of something like a Veterans Memorial Walkway. If you’re going to put a memorial in front of City Hall, it seems like the Ryan Hummert Memorial should have been the one to be in front of the Fire and Police departments. If that wasn’t the preferred location for that memorial, is it a more preferred location for this one?
On the grounds of the The Heights (Richmond Heights Community Center on Dale near Hanley Rd.), is located a very new memorial: “Mid-County Veterans Memorial Gazebo”. Individuals can purchase memorial brick pavers. Memorial events have been held there the last two years. Richmond Heights, Maplewood and Brentwood residents happily share The Heights, Maplewood Family Aquatic Center, and Brentwood Ice Rink. (Residents of all three cities get resident fee rates.) I think a memorial at the Maplewood City Hall would be an unnecessary duplication of resources. Check the memorial website:
http://www.vetsmemorial.org/
To those who are hesitant in signing because of privacy concerns: if you sign the petition, your name will not show up unless you make a comment on the petition. I receive an email notification that says your name when you sign the petition, but I am not making that list public. If the City Council requests the list of names, I will provide it to them. If you would prefer your name to not be on that list, I will respect your desire but you need to email me at [email protected].
I hope the petition to stop this is successful. Folks today are sick and tired of our government officials wasting our tax dollars on frivolous things. We can honor our veterans in many other existing programs, and places, around Missouri and St. Louis.
I find it hard to believe anyone in their right mind would approve a project that came in nearly 100% over budget, but then again, this is government were taking about.
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