If local Vietnam Veterans have their way, no retail establishment -- including the proposed Bojangles fast food restaurant -- will ever be built adjacent to the Moore County Veteran's Memorial in Carthage.
“To me that’s sacred ground,” said President Chuck Spelman during their Monday, June 4 meeting of Moore County Chapter 966 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
“As we sit on one of the donated granite benches and pay our respect to those who made the supreme sacrifice -- that you and I may be free -- during a moment of silence, only to hear ‘May I take your order?’ I don’t think so.”
The twenty-two VVA members in attendance at the meeting voted unanimously to oppose the use of the property for any retail establishment.
The Memorial is tucked into a corner of the former Carriage Oaks Shopping Center property, which the County acquired and converted into administrative offices for the Department of Social Services, as well as Planning and related departments. Inscribed with the names of Moore County veterans of all wars, including many who were killed in action, the Memorial fronts onto a large grassy lawn.
Bojangles has approached the County with an offer to purchase 1.3 acres of that lawn as the site for a restaurant, which would sit alongside an existing Hardee's restaurant that is approximately 500 feet from the Memorial.
Commissioner Lea Opposes Sale
Moore County Commissioner Tim Lea -- a veteran of the US Marine Corps and invited guest speaker for the meeting -- addressed three concerns he has with placing a Bojangles restaurant next to the Memorial.
First, not only is Lea’s name on the Memorial wall, but it also holds that of his father, various family members, and friends -- some of whom were killed in combat.
“It concerns me greatly at this point that we’re looking to do something potentially that may desecrate that sacred ground,” Lea said.
Secondly, the 1.3 acres in question was initially purchased by the County in order to consolidate the Department of Social Services there. Lea indicated that the County may need the acreage in the future for expansion.
“I don’t think it [Bojangles] needs to go next to a memorial like this,” said Lea, who explained that it is common practice to place administrative buildings next to memorial sites -- not fast food establishments -- which is done in both Raleigh and Washington DC.
Thirdly, Lea said that selling the property to Bojangles has been on the table since October of 2011 in closed session. It only came to light in Open Session that these discussions had been taking place.
“What cannot be discussed in closed session is if you are selling a piece of property,” said Lea, “because that asset, that piece of property, belongs to you, the taxpayer.”
According to Lea, three areas dealing with the sale of property that should not be discussed in closed session include a specific buyer, property location, and the price.
“All five Commissioners, including me, discussed this in closed session,” said Lea. “So we are all guilty of having violated open meetings law.”
The Seven Lakes Times has requested the release of the minutes of any closed session in which the matter was discussed, as well as the release of public records relating to the proposed sale. However releasing those minutes is a decision only the Commissioners can make. The agenda for the Board's Tuesday, June 5 meeting includes a potential vote on releasing the minutes. The County has not yet responded to The Times' public records request.
Vets Consider Trying to Purchase the Property
Spelman presented two options that Chapter 966 and other veteran's organizations might have to protect the Memorial. One is to try and raise the money and purchase the land outright so that no establishment can ever be built on it.
“I’d go after it in a heartbeat,” said Spelman. “A lot of people don’t know this is going on. This is something to me that has been kept under the table to a point.”
“Is it feasible to think the Veteran’s Organization -- if we involve the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars -- could possibly raise enough funds to purchase a piece or property like that?” asked member Bill Keith.
Although Lea could not reveal what Bojangles had offered for the property, since that would be a violation of closed session law, he said, with enough donations, the property could be purchased by the Chapter.
The second option is, if the property does sell to Bojangles, then a request can be made for some type of vegetation to be planted between the Memorial Site and the fast food restaurant.
“If this isn’t something we are going to win,” said the Chapter 966 Vice President Dan Conrad, “there should be something that we can ask them to get some privacy.”
It is also possible that the County could retain ownership of the property, reserving it for future needs for county office space. The Board at one point had architects develop plans for a County Administration building on the site, but that idea was shelved.
Members of the Chapter 966 organization will attend the Commissioners’ Tuesday, June 5 meeting at 6:00 pm to speak against selling the property to Bojangles.
Spelman has also sent a letter to Bojangles’ headquarters protesting locating a restaurant next to the Memorial.
