Monuments Men

The Official Unofficial Minutes of the WL BOA
June 3

The Entrance Advisory Group (EAG) Committee presented an update in person at the meeting by Co-Chair Ron Surma (the other Chair, Jerry Bos was not present).

Surma noted there was around $25,000 in the EAG fund and the EAG would like to proceed with pouring footings and replicating the cast concrete pylons at the remaining three monument sites, all on the West Side (if you want to see an example of the pylon go to 76th off of Kerns to see one).  There are $51,650 in pledges to be redeemed with an estimated $95,000 total needed to complete the project.  When questioned about the pledges and fund raising Surma said they indeed had conducted fund raising this past year...the money in the bank total would indicate if serious fund raising had been conducted it was an abysmal failure.  There was no information presented whether the "pledges" were the residual ones from 5 years ago or new pledges.  When the question was asked on the % of residences that have contributed to the fund there was no response from Surma or City officials...my guess is about 40 of the 752 homes...you do the math.  Why is that important?  The project continues to be run like a club, rather than a City project.  To wit, two EAG meetings this past month, on work days, shielding scrutiny from the working public.  Communication to the public?  A flyer sent in a packet with other flyers for the 4th of July, the EAG begging for money but not detailing the progress of the project or its future plans...just send money.  The City web site for the EAG has not been tended to in some time, the financials and minutes are from last year.  A bit underwhelming.  The project has never reached community consensus or support...but it drives on, basically now a West Side problem.

Ironic now because the BOA appointed Botbyl as a voting member of the EAG, and of course he lives on the West Side.

The BOA voted to allow the EAG to proceed with bids and plans despite my request to defer further action until all the necessary funds were in the bank.  The EAG persists in the strategy of "if we build it they will donate".  The BOA, ultimate stewards of the money and the project, seem happy to continue their lack of interest in the whole affair.  Oh, well.

For those of you with memories, this started because of the removal of monuments at East Side/Forest/Hillside when the construction started for the New Barry Road and Bridge.  It has burgeoned into a beast of a project the continues to lumber on.