Oakdale Veterans Memorial Makes it into Governor's Bonding Proposal

The Oakdale Veterans Memorial has the distinction of being the lowest-cost project to make it into Gov. Mark Dayton’s bonding proposal, which was announced Tuesday.

At $30,000 it’s only a sliver of the $775 million total, and Oakdale Veterans Memorial Committee member Bill Rasmussen said he hopes that’ll ensure it doesn’t get whittled out of the final bill, which will be debated in the legislative session that convenes Jan. 24.

The funding would require a local match of $30,000, meaning the committee would have enough money to bring its plans for a memorial outside to fruition this spring, said committee member Ted Bearth.

The committee has already raised $15,000 in private donations, and members will continue selling pavers and seeking donations for the project, even if the state funds come through, Bearth said.

After three years of fundraising and planning, Rasmussen said, the committee was “elated” to get the news of its inclusion in the proposal.

“I couldn’t get to the phone fast enough to start calling people,” he said.

The memorial will be built this year, regardless of whether the project gets the state funding, Mayor Carmen Sarrack said at a city council workshop in August.

It will be located in the grassy area just east of Oakdale City Hall, and it will include a police memorial that honors Oakdale officer Richard Walton, who was killed while trying to thwart a robbery.

Sen. Chuck Wiger (DFL-Maplewood) and Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) said they were pleased to see that the project was included in the governor’s proposal.

“Our veterans have done so much for us and this memorial is but a small token of our gratitude,” Slawik said. “While we haven’t been successful in obtaining the funding yet, I look forward to working with Governor Dayton and my colleagues in the Legislature to bring this project to fruition.”

Another nearby project, a request for $3.4 million for improvements at the Tubman Center East, located in the former St. Paul’s Monastery building, was also included in the governor’s proposal.

Editor’s note: KSTP reporter Bob McNaney stopped by Oakdale City Hall Tuesday to talk with veterans on the committee about its inclusion in Dayton’s proposal. Click here to see the video.