LAKE PARK, Ga. (WTXL) - This Independence Day, an argument over land used for a veteran's memorial is causing friction in a local town.
Tom's Pond Veteran's Memorial is a relatively new project in Lake Park, Georgia. However, as plans for the memorial take shape, there's now a question of who owns part of the land.
"This is not anything new, the veterans are not trying to take over," said Russell McLeod. McLeod is a Lake Park veteran who says he's helping plan the future of the memorial. However, there's one issue.
"The fence that we put up is temporary, on the boundary line," said McLeod.
On the other side: City Council Member Jena Sandlin says that fence is about 40 feet too far into her property.
"That was my land. I've taken care of that land," said Sandlin. "I've told them that's okay to put up a fence there to separate from that little house, but why would you take it all the way to the woods and block me off from the water?"
The folks behind the veteran's memorial say moving the property line over would change a lot of the visions they have for the future, like their hope of building a fishing dock right in the area.
"If you're going to contest something that's going to be donated to a cause that's remembering veterans alive and dead, and you're going to contest it? That's the most un-American thing you can do," said Lowndes County Veteran Michael Altepeter.
Sandlin says a new survey of the land will be done soon to determine the exact property line. However, in the meantime, she says an ordinance still needs to be passed to create a special committee to oversee any changes to the memorial, because it sits on city land.
"We're breaking the law if we don't do that," said Sandlin. "If we let somebody come into our city, even a citizen, and take into their own hands on city property to do things, that's not right."
McLeod says he's just focused on the future. He wants to make sure this park is somewhere veterans and their families can come for sanctuary.
"What we're trying to do is unify the city. Not trying to gain attention, not trying to do any of those things. We're trying to resolve all that. This is something for every veteran," said McLeod.
The veteran's memorial ordinance will go before the Lake Park City Council at their next meeting on Tuesday, July 11th. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. and it's open to the public.
