The 9-11 Memorial construction looks to be coming to a conclusion and the ribbon cutting celebration arriving shortly. Hooray for the memorial committee, donors and all who have made this project a reality.

One large question still remains. Who pays for the maintenance of the memorial and grounds?

It has been continually promised from day one that no taxpayer funds would be expended for the memorial construction and maintenance. Bremerton’s City Council was promised while the project was in design approval that a perpetual maintenance fund of some type would be set up prior to actual construction.

A design phase memorandum of understanding contract was signed which also expressed the funding concerns echoed by the Bremerton Parks Commission.  Again the committee promise was reaffirmed when the city funded the site improvements and seeding of the site. There was to be a construction phase agreement last October.

There was supposed to be a private maintenance plan by now. I have been told that there is a document from the Port Authority of New York that may also have perpetual requirements as a condition of receiving the WTC beam artifacts.

Do these liabilities transfer to the city?

There are rumors that there is no fund or means at this time for the maintenance once construction is completed even though promises were made to move forward. There will be a maintenance cost. So who shall pay for the upkeep and maintenance?

Robert Parker

Port Orchard