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Commissioner Keigher - Public Works - To Accept the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument Located on the Department of Social Services Campus as County Owned and Maintained Property
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STAFF CONTACT
Daniel K. Ziehm, PE - Public Works Director - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
In January 2004, the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, working in conjunction with the Gaston County Progressive Coalition, NAACP, the Gaston County Organization for Community Concerns, Inc., and the Gaston Citizen-Clergy Coalition (GC3), resolved the commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. monument on the Department of Social Services campus, located at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and East Long Avenue. The monument is an obelisk with the words “I have a dream” written in 17 languages. This monument pays homage to the slain civil rights leader’s vision that people from all walks of life could unite. The monument and plaza were paid for with non-County funds. The monument also has a plaque listing the names of the annual Gaston County MLK Award recipients beginning in 2004. After 2025, there will not be room on the plaque for additional award recipients’ names.
Approval of this Board Action accepts the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. monument as County property. Moving forward, Gaston County will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep associated with the monument. Also, approval of this Board Action authorizes County staff to work with the Gaston Citizen-Clergy Coalition (GC3) to develop a new Gaston County MLK Award recipient plaque and a new placement of this plaque at a suitable location.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
MLK Monument Letter