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Holcomb Council approves Clutter Memorial site
Published 6/25/2009 in Local News
By STEPHANIE FARLEY
HOLCOMB — While the Clutter family memorial will be located in Holcomb Community Park, approval of the actual location didn't come without some disagreement and revisiting of the site during Wednesday's Holcomb City Council meeting.
On Wednesday night, Holcomb City Councilman Greg Cox ran through photos of the site for the memorial, which will honor Herb and Bonnie Clutter and their children Nancy, 16, and Kenyon, 15, who were murdered Nov. 15, 1959. The run through of photos, material making up the actual memorial and cost of the benches the council was considering purchasing for the memorial came at the request of council members during the council's June 10 meeting.
Cox gave an update on exactly where the Clutter Memorial Committee — including a few former friends and acquaintances of the Holcomb family — recommended the memorial go in the park. The location was ultimately approved 3-2 Wednesday night, with Cox and council members Tracy Davis and Rob McCallister supporting the site and Councilmen Gary Newman and Lary Cole opposing.
As Cox ran through the photos with the council, Cole said he wondered if there was a more prominent site in the park rather than the northwestern area by the picnic tables. Cole said that while he believes the memorial's a "super cause" and good thing, the site of the memorial needs to be in a place of prominence.
Cox told Cole the committee had done a site visit and thought the proposed spot would be the best place, explaining he understood Cole's concern but that it was the wish of the committee the memorial be located there.
"It could've been brought up a lot sooner," Cox said of some of the councilmen not liking the selected site, instead of bringing up the issue on the eve of construction, which is expected to start later this month. The memorial dedication is planned for Sept. 12, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the killings in November.
Cox said the location has plenty of trees and doesn't interfere with the park's underground sprinkler system. He said once council members got their feet on the ground over in the park, they'd see it's an ideal location.
So the council traveled to the park.
After walking less than two blocks to the park, the council stood in the area of the proposed memorial site. Cox pointed to open field in another portion of the park and said he didn't feel the area, which has a lack of trees and shade and hard to get out to for someone who can't move as well, would be an ideal location for the memorial.
The south side of the park is a lake when it rains, Cox added.
Cole wondered if the memorial could go north of the sidewalk, where it could be seen by drivers along Jones Avenue. Davis said the memorial could be more visible from the road, with Cole adding the memorial being located north of the sidewalk wouldn't interfere with children and families mingling where the shade is and memorial soon will be.
After returning to the city building, Cox told Cole and the council he'd brought up before that the memorial was going to be located near the playground equipment and that the equipment needed to be moved. Cox said it was never brought to his attention that the site was unacceptable and that if there were any concerns, they should've been mentioned sooner.
After the vote and meeting, Cole said he still thought the memorial could go in a better place in the park other than where people congregate. He also said he brought up the fact there could be a better location than by the swing set when Cox previously brought up the issue.
Cole and Newman also had an issue with no one from the committee ever formally approaching and asking the council for approval of the memorial site. In July 2008, Bob Rupp approached the council, asking their thoughts on the memorial, saying he'd like to see it on city ground, where it would be maintained and cared for.
Cox has since been a liaison between the council and committee.
The council also voted on whether the city should purchase benches at a total cost of $2,360 for the memorial. Cox said he felt the benches would be a drop in the bucket for the city but that if the council didn't approve the benches, the memorial committee was going to move forward anyway with installing the memorial and, if possible, finding funds to install benches, too.
City Administrator Robin Peña said the expense would basically clean out the city's Special Park fund, which comes through state tax revenue on liquor sales. Peña said there's about $2,800 in the Special Park fund, but that the upkeep of the park also comes from the fund.
Cole said he didn't see reason to approve the purchase if the committee would possibly be able to find funding later on for the benches.
Cox made a motion for the city to approve the purchase, with the motion failing 3-2, with McCallister, Cole and Newman opposing and Davis and Cox in favor.
"I support there being a memorial," Newman said after the meeting, explaining, though, he felt someone from the committee should have made a formal request and that he didn't want to put the burden of funding some of the memorial on the taxpayers.
Newman said the city shouldn't be spending money not in the budget.
Where do you think the Clutter memorial should be placed? Talk about it at SWKTalk.com.
Found 3 comment(s)!
Confused
I am a little confused. Mr Cox indicates that the cost of benches is a "drop in the bucket" yet he say's he is there to save the public from wasteful spending? $2000 for park benches is ridiculous! I think Mr Cox has finally shown his true colors, this is something he wanted so by god he is going to get it no matter who has to pay the cost. He has twice voted against sending representation to DC, where its actually done some good for the community (for those of you that aren't aware, Congressman Moran is on a Railroad committee) and right after taking the concern that BNSF wasn't responding to requests to get involved suddenly signs appeared and trucks can only park on private property now, not tha railroad, a job well done by representation in DC, it may not be big but its a start and Mr Newman followed thru on what he believes in...atleast that money appears to be paying off, but Mr Cox wants the city to spend money that doesn't exist? Mr Cox, please get a clue rather than attend meetings and cut other people off when they try to express their opinion..but I forgot you are a Union Rep so it's your way or no way. Good for those council members that voted against the city paying for the benches, and good for Mr Cole and Mr Newman for trying to stick to the rules and require that this committee actually come to the city to request a location rather than chosing it on their own...just because a councilmember is on your committee, don't think you can just get what you want. I'm not against the memorial but I think the committee was lead to believe that Mr Cox would take care of it all, and he failed, just as he has failed to live up to his campaign promises. I think this is a great example of Mr Cox's accuasations of "back room politics."
Posted by: Tax Payer on 6/25/2009
Memorial
I am not against the memorial however did anyone ask the family directly what there wishes would be about having a memorial. Also, shouldn't the city want to improve the appearence of the park and its facilities if memorials are being placed in that area. The park will be visited more often by travelers from other places and can you imagine their first response of seeing a park in that bad of shape. Maybe some consideration should be given to up grading the park. I know a few citizens were trying to raise money for playground equipment but had very little interest from the community. i beleive the city has made some improvements on the one side of the city. Whats wrong with this side? The residents over there deserve improvements also.
Posted by: Holcomb Resident on 6/25/2009
why have the memorial ?
I was a Holcomb student from K-12 and guaduated in the early seventies. I remember what went on with the families and the circus of the filming of the movie " In Cold Blood" It still amazes me that a family that was slaughted fivety years ago by two sociopaths is still important. You would think after Hictock and Smith were hanged the town would had have closer and move on. I know Holcomb has moved on and has become a comunity of good people. Let the Clutter family rest in pease Sincerely Jim Linenberger
Posted by: Jim Linenberger on 6/25/2009
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