Residents press Lincoln County commissioners to reconsider placement of veterans memorial

Several residents used the public-comment period at the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners' May 12 meeting to urge reconsideration of the county's placement of a veterans memorial at the Criminal Justice Center.

Scott Montgomery told the board that documents he provided show public opposition to placing the memorial at the Criminal Justice Center and said, "Nobody from the public stood in favor of putting that veterans memorial out at the Criminal Justice Center." He and other speakers argued the site separates public parking from employee parking and requires security screening that discourages public visitation.

Doug McKinney of Canton expressed worry that technical reports and staff recommendations could be used as a pretext to remove or alter the old courthouse. "I can see this whole thing is geared towards tearing it down, which I hate to see," he said.

Commissioner Schmidt responded that conversations with veterans in surrounding communities had produced different views. "The veterans that I have talked to in Sioux Falls and in Tea and in Lennox have not shared your opinion," he said, noting a range of views across the county.

Commissioner Putnam reported attending a veterans coffee where local veterans and organizers, including county veteran service officer David Eckley and David's wife Donna Eckley, discussed the issue; Putnam thanked them for organizing outreach. He and other commissioners asked staff to assemble spending and remodeling figures for the old courthouse to clarify what work has been done previously.

No formal vote or action on the memorial placement was taken during the meeting. The discussion concluded with calls from public commenters for the board to solicit additional input from veterans and to reconsider the site selection.