The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Memorial set for courthouse
Law Enforcement and Fire Memorial will be on grounds of Historical Courthouse
A new memorial will be placed on the grounds of the Lorain County Historical Courthouse. Lorain County commissioners received a presentation on the new Law Enforcement and Fire Memorial at their Feb. 7 meeting from Karen Davis, facilities management director for the county.
The memorial will sit on the south lawn of the old courthouse just west of Third Street in Elyria and will feature a large 6-foot by 10-foot American black granite monument wreathed by six smaller walls and two meditation benches. In the center of the memorial, a 13-inch diameter eternal light will shoot up from the ground.
County Administrator James Cordes said the project has taken quite some time due to issues with the rendering and the materials to be used.
The American black granite slab which makes up the core of the memorial is being supplied by a company on the west side of
“The eternal light is here to recognize the people who fall in service.”
— County Administrator James Cordes
Cleveland which is owned by a LaGrange resident.
“I found out (the original memorial) was being made in China and I discontinued that effort,” Cordes said. “We wanted to have a locally produced memorial, so I took a little bit more time to find it, but we did.”
Davis said the two low walls closest to the granite slab will feature the end of watch plaques for officer and firefighters who died in the line of duty. Those plaques will have down lighting from the walls for 24-hour illumination.
Cordes explained the symbolism behind the different parts of the memorial.
“The eternal light is here to recognize the people who fall in service,” he said. “The walls up closest to the memorial, it is the intention to have brass tags, sizeable ones, there to recognize those who’ve given the sacrifice for others. I think this is a going to be a fairly solemn memorial.”
Avon Lake police Chief Duane Streator, who heads the Lorain County Police Chiefs Association, and Sheffield Village fire Chief Jeffrey Young, who presides over the Lorain County Fire Chief’s Association, also addressed the commissioners.
“From my association, and from me personally, it’s a heartfelt thanks for your consideration,” Young said. “This is really a nice thing you’re considering, and I think it’s a great thing for Lorain County.”
Davis said the county hopes to break ground on the project as soon as possible, with hopes it could be finished by early May.
Commissioners also heard a presentation on the capital budget requests the county is making to the state.
Sustainability coordinator Mike Challender walked the commissioners through three projects the county has requested state funding for.
First, the aforementioned Law Enforcement and Fire Memorial is estimated to cost $250,000.
Commissioners are seeking $150,000 from the state and the county would pick up the remainder.
Next, Challender outlined the plan to install multicolored LED lighting on the Charles Berry Bascule Bridge in Lorain.
It is estimated to cost $260,000, and the county is asking the state to kick in $150,000.
The remainder will be picked up by the county, city of Lorain, the Lorain Port Authority, the Lorain County Port Authority and Visit Lorain County.
The final project is the proposed renovation of the old Golden Acres Nursing Home, 45999 North Ridge Road in Amherst, to become Recovery One, a onestop recovery facility for those facing addiction.
The project involves fixing the roof, elevator, heating and air conditioning and tuck pointing. Its estimated cost is $850,000.
The county is asking the state to pay $500,000, with the remainder being paid by the county and the NORD Family Foundation.
Additional support may be provided by Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services of Lorain County, The LCADA Way and the Lorain County Board of Mental Health.
In other news, commissioners approved more funding for the Lorain County Historical Courthouse.
They approved an additional $5,780.87 to South Shore Electric to run cabling for the camera system.
Mosser Construction also is set to receive an additional $18,728 to relocate a fire pump room door and for new wood paneling and beams.