Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Veterans groups press Livingston commission to preserve Sacajawea Park memorials as parks plan proceeds
Summary
Multiple residents and veterans urged the commission to retain and restore two veterans memorials and a flagpole in Sacajawea (Sacagawea) Miles Park. City staff said no plan exists to remove memorials and the parks master-plan process is still in draft and will return to public review.
Speakers at the start of the meeting urged the Livingston City Commission to preserve and return a flagpole and to avoid removing veterans memorials proposed for Sacajawea Miles Park during a parks master-plan update.
Several veterans and veterans'-service representatives told the commission that the flagpole and two military memorials in Sacajawea Miles Park are important civic landmarks. Christina Nelson said removing the veterans memorial would be "showing disrespect to all veterans and their families" and asked the commission to keep the flagpole in place.
Multiple speakers provided historical context: a presenter referenced a National Register listing for Sacajawea Miles Park Historic District (listed in 2023) and described a WPA-era park development and two military memorials within the district, including a northern memorial located near the Yellowstone River bridge. Cheryl Kaudsman, president of the American Legion Auxiliary, said the memorial was established with city permission more than 38 years ago and asked the city to reinstall the flagpole so Memorial Day and other commemorations can be observed at the site.
City Manager Grant Gager responded to public concern, saying he had received emails and phone calls about a rumor that the triangle memorial would be removed. Gager told the commission: "There is no active plan to remove the memorial that exists in the triangle." He said the parks master-plan process is ongoing, consultants have provided draft recommendations to staff, and public review of those recommendations is still to come.
Gager and other commissioners stressed the master-plan process remains incomplete. Gager said staff were awaiting draft materials from consultants and planned to publish those drafts for public review before finalizing the parks master plan. Commissioners and staff repeated that public input will continue and that the project is not at a stage that contemplates removal of the monuments or flagpoles.
Speakers who supported keeping the memorials said the city should work with veterans groups on restoration and flagpole replacement; at least one speaker said funds had been previously identified but the work was not completed. Residents also asked whether flagpole posts used during holidays remained in place; staff replied the posts/holes remain in the ground.
The discussion occurred during the public-comment period and did not produce any formal action by the commission at this meeting. Staff directed that draft master-plan recommendations be posted for public review and that future opportunities for comment will be scheduled.
