County leaves no room for Marines memorial
Commissioners plan parking lot for downtown property, suggest an alley for monument
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Jerry Paul is running out of time. His proposal to erect a monument honoring former Howard County resident Opha Mae Johnson, the first female U.S. Marine, is facing yet another uphill battle. The grant money attached to the project – and Paul’s health – are approaching final deadlines.
Yet the Howard County Board of Commissioners, once supportive of the project, have relegated it to a downtown alley, if it happens at all. At the commissioners’ Feb. 19 meeting, the future of the memorial was clearly in jeopardy.
Paul, president of the Howard County Veterans Memorial Corp., has struggled to gain approval for the erection of a monument honoring Johnson. The original plan, which was approved by the commissioners, would have placed the monument on the northwest corner of the Howard County Courthouse square. The courthouse security committee, however, nixed the plan over perceived safety concerns.
Rebuffed there, Paul asked for an alternative location, and the commissioners suggested using a portion of the green space currently located on the north side of the Howard County Administration Building at Main and Mulberry streets but made no commitment to it.
At the same time, Howard County is in the process of purchasing and demolishing the former Firestone building at the southeast corner of Union and Mulberry streets, an act they unsuccessfully attempted a decade ago when the city administration of Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight placed a moratorium on downtown demolition.
Current Mayor Tyler Moore, a participant in that failed attempt as a Howard County Commissioner, gave the county the green light to proceed and even considered vacating East Mulberry Street between Main and Union streets for the county’s use.
Plans changed, and Mulberry Street will not be vacated. As for the Firestone lot after demolition, the commissioners have adopted a plan to turn it into 25 parking spaces for county employees and patrons of the Kokomo Howard County Public Library. This raised Paul’s hackles.
He appeared at the Feb. 19 meeting with four different proposals incorporating either that green space or a portion or even a majority of the Firestone lot. One of those designs was immediately discarded by Paul with the news that Mulberry Street would not be vacated.
He then turned to a design that would relocate the administration building’s sign so that the monument could be placed near Main Street. Commissioner Jack Dodd killed that idea quickly.
“The current grassy area is going to be redone,” said Dodd.
That left Paul with designs incorporating the Firestone lot. One would place the memorial as the centerpiece of the lot, turning the quarter of a city block into a park. The other also utilized a portion of the lot, but not as prominently. Both designs, however, stand in conflict with the commissioners’ parking lot plans.
“In my opinion, we don't need another parking lot,” said Paul. “We have a bad history in this community when buildings get burned down or tore down, we put in parking lots. They’re not pretty. They're not going to be pretty.
“You have two parking garages within a block of (the administration center) and the courthouse. I’m about half gone, but I can still walk a block. Even if I need a little help, I’d do it out of meanness.”
The commissioners didn’t respond, frustrating Paul.
“I think what I'm upset more about is no one had enough respect for my organization, which has done a lot in this community, and me as a veteran, to give us a heads-up and tell us you weren’t going to do this,” said Paul. “It's just disrespectful. I don't deserve that.”
Paul pointed out that the memorial corporation had secured a $50,000 matching grant to help cover the costs, and he had previous commitments from the county and the city to help underwrite the match.
“Have you thought about Veterans’ Park at Darrough Chapel?” countered Dodd.
The memorial corporation oversees and maintains Veterans’ Park, but Paul rejected the idea, stating that the park is “perfect the way it is” and that being home to the first female U.S. Marine was an honor that deserved recognition in a unique location.
Dodd then made a proposal technically involving the Firestone building lot. He directed Paul’s attention to the middle of the block, where two alleys intersect.
“This is just a suggestion, but if you look the lower right hand (southwest) corner, there by ‘Artists Alley,’ have you thought about that?” asked Dodd.
“There isn’t enough room there for it,” said Paul. “It’s twice as wide as that alley. It wouldn’t make any sense.”
Dodd then sought to take the conversation “offline,” away from the public eye, so that he could “show you what I’m talking about.”
Stating that time was of the essence, considering the closing $50,000 grant window and Paul’s failing health, he agreed to a private meeting. Commissioner Jeff Lipinski suggested that the meeting should take place before the commissioners next public meeting on March 4 so that a public report could be made.
I understand the reasoning behind wanting this memorial downtown. More people will see it there than if it were in Veteran’s Park. If it becomes an absolute no, then put it at the park. Some recognition is better than none.