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Commissioners approve veteran-built PVC replacement for DeKalb County Memorial crosses
Summary
County commissioners agreed to have a local veteran build replacement Memorial Day crosses from PVC with trophy-shop lettering, after reviewing two quotes and discussing durability, mounting and funding; material and installation details were discussed and the board approved proceeding using commissioners' budgets for costs.
Commissioners on Dec. 16 voted to replace the county’s aging Memorial Day white crosses, authorizing a local veteran to build new PVC crosses and the county’s trophy shop to supply and attach lettering and plaques.
A presenter told the board the 12 white crosses on display around the cannon were dilapidated and starting to show their age, and said two contractors returned workable quotes after the county requested estimates. “There are 12 crosses altogether,” the presenter said, noting that one larger cross is marked for unknown dead; she described the current crosses as wrapped 2x4s and said the county should decide how to replace them.
A resident with a woodworking shop proposed using poly/composite material and permanent engraving; a veteran volunteer proposed a lower-cost PVC approach. Commissioners discussed installation options — stakes, horizontal tabs and permanent in-ground tubes — and durability concerns (moisture, wind and potential vandalism). The quotes discussed were roughly $1,540 for the composite option and about $250 for the PVC material option (materials-only estimates), plus roughly $100 per plaque from the trophy shop for lettering.
The motion approved directed the county to use the veteran’s offer to build PVC crosses (materials estimated modest) and have the trophy shop produce and affix lettering, with the commissioners’ budgets to absorb the material and plaque costs. Commissioners also noted maintenance responsibility and asked staff to confirm secure mounting details before production.
What’s next: Staff will coordinate the veteran builder, the trophy shop and county maintenance staff to finalize mounting methods and payment source; installation and any warranty/maintenance plan were discussed as part of the follow-up.
