DAYTON’S SOMBER ANNIVERSARY PLAN
One-year anniversary of Oregon District mass shooting arises Aug. 4.
Dayton on Friday announced plans to commemorate the oneyear anniversary of the Oregon District mass shooting that left nine dead and dozens injured.
The anniversary is Aug. 4, and the commemoration has been planned with coronavirus pandemic protocols in mind.
The city, along with several community partners, will have virtual events to help remember and honor victims and survivors.
The events have been branded “Dayton Shines,” a reference to the Gem City Shine event held after the tragedy that brought tens of thousands together in the Oregon District in a celebration of life and love.
“In the midst of an already difficult year, on Aug. 4, 2019, we joined the sad list of cities terrorized by a mass shooting,” Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said in a statement. “Although we have been forced to change our initial plans due to the current health crisis, we are hopeful that these events will still allow people to express themselves and still come together as a community.”
Organizers say the anniversary events “will be solitary, virtual or limited to small groups.”
They ask community members who participate to follow the state’s safety guidelines.
The events include:
Nine Minutes of Silence. This will take place at 8:04 p.m. Aug. 4, to remember the nine victims of the shooting. The city will provide a link to a video tribute to victims on its Facebook page for nine minutes. Participants are
of property insurance.
Grants will be available to cover half of the total eligible project costs. Grants to businesses will not exceed $15,000. The business has to use private, non-city funds to match the grant money.
Applicants will first submit an application — including a budget, income statement and description of the work to be done — to the program manager. Holloway said the program manager has yet to be selected.
The Vandalia Development Corp.will review the application in a public meeting. If a project is approved, the applicant will be asked to submit three construction estimates. The applicant will then be asked to chose a contractor from the estimates submitted to the city.
The program manager will conduct weekly site inspections. Any changes in the work must be reviewed and approved by the program manager.
After the project is completed, the applicant must give the city documents showing all project costs and invoices for all project-related expenses and lien releases from all contractors and subcontractors showing that the applicant has paid. Then, within 10 days of getting that information, the program manager will confirm the project has been finished and the grant funds will be awarded. Funds for the grants will come from the city’s general fund, Holloway said.
Contact this contributing writer at bonnie.meibers@ coxinc.com.