Firefighter memorial discussed

A state-of-the-art training center surrounded by a tranquil park, monuments and an eternal flame are among the ideas under consideration for a public memorial honoring the nine Charleston firefighters who died in last year's Sofa Super Store blaze.

A 26-member city commission is mulling proposals to build a lasting and inspirational tribute on the site of the former West Ashley store, which the city purchased for $1.85 million in the wake of the June 18, 2007, fire. One commission member said the memorial could cost as much as $10 million.

A final plan for the site is likely months away, and Mayor Joe Riley stressed that the planning process will be a "community, collaborative decision."

The commission's first meeting on Wednesday, however, occurred with no advance notice to the public, a clear violation of the state's open government law. The Freedom of Information Act requires public bodies to give at least 24 hours notice of all meetings so that the public has the opportunity to attend.

"This was clearly an illegal meeting," said Jay Bender, an attorney for the South Carolina Press Association.

Riley said the lack of public notice was an oversight, but he supported holding the meeting anyway. "It was a mistake. It just fell through a crack. I think, given the fact that people made the effort to come, it should go forward."

Jimmy Bailey, chairman of the Riley-appointed commission, said he was unaware of the oversight and opted to hold the meeting. He said the panel's meetings will be open, and allowed two Post and Courier reporters to sit in on Wednesday's session at the Town & Country Inn and Conference Center in West Ashley.

Bender said it appeared Bailey used some common sense after the city placed him "behind the eight ball." Still, a better solution would have been for the panel to postpone and reschedule its meeting so the public could attend.

The Post and Courier received an e-mail notification of the meeting a few hours before it began.

The commission is made up of firefighters, families of the fallen men, city officials and community members.

While the panel's first official meeting was Wednesday, Bailey said he has already met several times since October with firefighters and family members of the fallen to gather input on what they would like to see included at the memorial.

Those discussions yielded a general consensus for placing the memorial on the 2.5-acre site. The exact spots where the nine firefighters died would be left as open, "sacred ground," Bailey said. Those involved also want at least one building on the site to house training and educational programs aimed at preventing firefighter deaths.

The mayor pledged to seek support and financing from a variety of public and private sources.

Fire Capt. Jack deTournillon, who is not on the panel, presented the committee with a possible plan for the site based on his discussion with fellow firefighters and relatives of those killed.

That plan includes two buildings that could house training classrooms, offices, a lecture hall, an emergency dispatch center and a room to display mementos and artifacts associated with the blaze.

DeTournillon's plan also includes a memorial garden with an eternal flame, trickling water and 6-foot monuments to the nine firefighters, each with lights illuminating a towering American flag.

Panel members applauded at the end of deTournillon's presentation.

Lauren Mulkey, widow of fire Capt. Louis Mulkey, said whatever is decided, the city needs to ensure it has adequate funding for long-term upkeep and security at the site. The memorial needs to remain a respectful place and not be allowed to become a "run-down theme park," she said.