After delay, Parks Commission approves veterans monument

By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point Park Commissioners voted on Thursday to approve the installation of a veterans memorial at Pfiffner Pioneer Park.

A 15″ x 6.5″ black granite memorial featuring the names of deceased veterans who also served in local law enforcement and fire/EMS departments has been in the works for placement at Pfiffner Pioneer Park for about a year. But earlier this month, commissioners said they wanted time to consider alternative locations.

The memorial was proposed by Stevens Point Police Chief Bob Kussow and Traci Tauferner, a veteran of the U.S. Army who now works in the medical field. Both are members of the Guns N’ Hoses planning committee that organizes a veterans fundraiser in the form of an annual softball game between local law enforcement and firefighters.

After raising more than $250,000 for various veteran-related causes since 2014, the GNH group last year decided to install a permanent memorial somewhere in Portage Co. After several considerations, the group, which also contains county deputies and police and firefighters from Plover, chose Pfiffner as the best option.

“It’s the one place we could all agree that we all visit,” Kussow told the Commission on Sept. 6, although he added that placing the memorial in Plover was also a strong consideration.

Kussow had been working behind the scenes with Parks Director Dan Kremer for about a year on the proposed location. He said it was difficult to reach a consensus with the GNH committee.

With Portage Co. Sheriff Mike Lukas leading the way, the group pulled in $90,000 in private donations for the memorial, which the group wants installed on the southside of Pfiffner adjacent to the Green Circle Trail.

“Guns N’ Hoses started in the city; we really want it here,” he said.

The objection

Kremer said the parks department staff had considered other locations previously vetted by the GNH committee, including Bukolt and Veterans Memorial parks, but Pfiffner had the blessing of Coast Guard Veteran Michael “Gunner” Pohl, who was previously involved with installing existing military monuments there.

There’s also a good deal of foot and bicycle traffic along the riverfront, making it prime real estate for such a memorial, he added.

But not all of the Commissioners were convinced. Commissioner Liz McDonald said she wanted other locations considered. To her mind, the monument also “honoring Guns N’ Hoses,” so she wanted to look at installing the monument in front of the city’s police or fire departments, or, possibly, Zenoff Park.

“I’d like us to take a little more time for a decision so everyone will have a chance to review this site to see if there might be another site this could be placed,” she said, moving that the issue be tabled until more study was done.

McDonald also said the Sept. 6 meeting packet contained the first news she’d heard about the memorial. Stories about the monument have been published since October 2022.

But Kussow pointed out that placing a six-and-a-half-foot-tall monument in front of the police or fire departments would cause safety concerns. He also reminded the Commission that about eight years ago, an electronic marquee in front of SPFD Station No. 1 was removed because it was a distraction that caused collisions at Division and Franklin streets.

“We don’t want something here where people slow down and actually look while they’re in their vehicles,” he said.

Wayne Sorenson, chairman of the Commission, agreed more time was needed.

“It’s a chance to maybe look at a couple of other options that will recognize the work that you all are doing, give that monument the space it deserves without worrying about getting rid of it in 10 years and having to move it somewhere else,” Sorenson said. “From a process standpoint, it is not unusual for this board to approve concepts, and then approve location. We have done that with other things in the past. I think there’s an interest in other alternatives.”

Disher questioned whether the location matters at all if the bank went up for sale. Kremer said the city’s targeted master plan called for a number of possible things that could go there. “The bank could be there forever; they could sell to somebody else. It could become a restaurant, it could become anything.”

Pohl had a message for the Commission.

“Before you vote, think of it this way: you’ve got a strip of land on either side of the 101st Airborne Bridge. You’ve got a strip of land that’s dedicated for veterans. This is the only place for that monument. It’s just a strip of land that will stay a park forever. Many people walk by, it’s a good place to reflect. It makes all the sense in the world not to table this. Everybody say ‘aye’ and we can continue with this project,” he said.

Sorenson was unmoved, saying the Commission would consider the location among others.

“What you’re asking us to do, especially with short notice, is to approve something you’ve decided upon without the board getting feedback on it. And that’s what we’re trying to do. I think there are other potential options that this board has the purview to consider,” he said.

Commissioner Matt Disher, who recently joined the GNH committee but abstained from the vote, said he didn’t understand the desire to delay.

“I’m newer on this committee but I do know a lot of work has gone into the location; this ties into the memorial that’s already there; this location makes the most sense,” Disher said. “I would just like to note that city staff does recommend to approve, so they’ve done their legwork, too.”

The Commission voted 7-1-1 to delay any decision “until its next meeting,” which was not immediately scheduled.

The lone dissent came from Commissioner Michael Glodosky, who said, “it’s a passive recreation area; I think it would be a perfect location. They’ve already looked at other sites.”

The reconsideration

When the Commission reconvened on Sept. 14, McDonald said she still envisions the memorial could be suitable elsewhere, but agreed to the location after a brief summary of the project by Kussow. No new information was presented on Thursday.

Also in attendance on Thursday were Stevens Point Fire Chief Jb Moody, who is an Air Force veteran, Motor Pump Operator Justin Thomson, Assistant Police Chiefs Dana Williams and Mike Rottier, and Capt. Josh Ostrowski from the PCSO, among others in the audience. None were given a chance to address the Commission prior to its unanimous vote approving the measure.

Kussow said an unveiling of the new monument would occur in early October.