'Wall That Heals' coming to Perryville in June

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Local veterans returning from Vietnam came home to no fanfare and no recognition, Michael Lundy told the Perryville board of aldermen Tuesday night.

"We did absolutely nothing for the Vietnam vets when they returned home," Lundy said.

Nearly a half-century later, the board took a step toward rectifying that Tuesday, giving tentative approval for the city's soccer field to host the traveling "Wall That Heals," a three-fifths-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., this summer.

"I think it's an awesome deal really, in honor of the veterans," alderman Curt Buerck said.

The wall will be on display from June 17 to 22, Lundy said. The date was planned to coincide with the June 21 Bikers on the Square event, and Lundy said Bikers on the Square donated funds to help bring the traveling memorial to the city.

Organizers are planning a candlelight vigil, memorial service and other activities, and Perryville Mayor Debbie Gahan said families will be able to take rubbings of their loved ones' names.

Alderman Gary Schumer was absent from the meeting, but the aldermen present voted unanimously to give tentative approval to the location, with formal approval expected once organizers work out details and present them to the board at a future meeting.

In other business Tuesday, the board:

* Approved an ordinance bringing city policy in line with state law governing first responders who seek public office. Under the previous ordinance, city employees who ran for city offices were required to take a leave of absence during their campaigns. A recent change in state law exempts first responders from that requirement. The new ordinance brings the city code into compliance with that change.

* Approved the city's 2014-2015 pay plan.

* Passed a resolution updating the city's purchasing policies.

* Passed an ordinance modifying the city's policy on repeat offenses concerning weeds and trash. Under the new policy, if weeds are allowed to grow or trash is allowed to accumulate on the same property more than once in a given period -- designated as a growing season for weeds or a calendar year for trash -- the city can issue citations for each subsequent violation without further notice.

* Approved the city's participation in the "Show Me Green" sales tax holiday from April 19 to 25, which city administrator Brent Buerck described as "a great deal" for the public.

* Discussed parking and safety issues at the intersection of Ganahl and Jackson streets.

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Pertinent address:

Perryville, MO