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Veterans committee asks county to add drains, reseal lot to protect memorial bricks
Summary
The Veterans Advisory Committee asked Alleghany County to install drains and consider sealing the Veterans Memorial Park parking lot to stop runoff that is damaging memorial bricks; the committee reported roughly 900 bricks already installed and outlined brick pricing and ordering details.
Robert Overby, commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment in Sparta and chair of Alleghany County’s Veterans Advisory Committee, asked commissioners to fund drainage work and consider resurfacing the parking lot at Veterans Memorial Park so newly installed memorial bricks will not be washed by runoff.
“We have approximately 900 memorial bricks installed at present time. The 1 side is completely full, and we're ready to start on the other side,” Overby told the board. He described the need for two or three drains under the parking area and suggested a small berm to channel water away from the brick installations.
Overby also asked the county to consider sealing the parking lot. The committee currently maintains the memorial area and has sold bricks to raise funds; Overby said the committee seals the monument twice a year and asked the county to consider adding sealing of the parking surface at budget time. He offered to accompany county staff on a site visit to scope the work and costs.
Committee members and county commissioners discussed logistics and next steps. A commissioner suggested having staff member David Spasier review the site and provide a cost estimate. Marge Gray was cited as holding the brick application at the veteran service office.
The committee provided pricing for commemorative bricks: an 8-by-8 brick costs $100 without a service emblem and $130 with a service emblem; a 2-by-4 brick costs $50 without an emblem and $80 with an emblem. Overby said most purchasers choose the service emblem and that the larger brick allows more inscription detail. The committee expects to install the current batch of bricks before Veterans Day and will continue selling additional bricks through November.
The request was presented as an advisory item; the board did not take a formal vote to commit county funds at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to obtain cost estimates and bring budget considerations back during the county’s budget process.
