OTTAWA — The Franklin County Commission discussed a request Monday to write formal policies for the Veterans Memorial. The memorial, at the corner of the courthouse lawn at Fifth and Main, has the names of those service personnel connected to Franklin County and killed in combat. The group that funded and created the memorial no longer exists, and the county commission is now responsible for maintaining and administering it. County administrator Lisa Johnson is recommending that the commission approve a written set of rules to guide future commissioners. Among the policies that commissioners could have to decide on is whether to change the criteria on whose name is put on the memorial. Sherry Wright, a member of the group that established the memorial, told commissioners that the criteria is for a service member who dies in a combat zone and who lived or attended school in Franklin County or had another strong local connection. Another policy is about the memorial bricks in the sidewalks around the memorial. The group sold the bricks, which memorialize area veterans, to raise funds for the memorial, Wright said. The bricks were laid in specific patterns and the group decided not to sell any more bricks, she said. However, Wright said she continues to get requests to buy the bricks. She said she would rather not sell more bricks but that would be up to the commission. Commissioners were scheduled to vote on the matter Wednesday morning.
Tuesday, March 26, 3 p.m.
