An authorization to begin groundbreaking on a Veterans Memorial that has been mired in controversy because of its location was tabled during Wednesday’s village board meeting. An accompanying resolution to assess alternative sites for the project was passed by a 4-2 vote. Both measures will be revisited at the board’s July 22 session.
The village board chose the memorial’s site on the William E. Brook Wetlands Sanctuary in April 2025, along the 990-block of Skidmore Avenue. Design changes place the memorial within 11 feet of Sequoit Creek, in an oval-shaped pattern encompassing 50×30 feet. Wetland stability and waterway buffer encroachment are areas of concern.
“Antioch is a certified community, and as such, the permitting process has been designated to them,” said Kurt Woolford, Lake County Strormwater Management’s director. “We have not seen any plans, as we would not…as long as it conforms to county code ordinances, with wetlands and buffers included.
“We retain authority in certain situations, just as the state of Illinois does,” he said. “For this project, it is the city of Antioch’s jurisdiction, with their own permitting and engineers.”
A previous site that was considered is a memorial park at Toft Avenue and Orchard Street. Veterans have indicated a preference for the property as a memorial because it already contains a Civil War cannon and a WWII-era tank.
The board’s motion to seek alternative sites includes the memorial park, requiring boring samples and other topographical features to be compiled before the July 22 meeting.
“The wetlands sanctuary was created as a memorial, and to place another memorial on top of it is not a good idea,” said trustee Mary Pedersen, at the meeting. “Despite what is being said, this memorial is not just to honor combat veterans, but all veterans. This is also a slap at the work of previous boards.”
The project has been forwarded by the Antioch Veterans Memorial Committee, a non-profit organization, which initially included members of the Antioch VFW Post 4551 and the Antioch American Legion Post 748. They have since dropped their participation from the project, as wetlands placement site led to dissension among individuals.
“I originally voted for the design as an oval, because it was less intrusive on the wetlands…I was still the lone ’no’ vote, back then,” said Trustee Ed Macek. “I also understand the project is $50,000 short of its goal.”
Trustee Brent Bluhardt noted, “People have donated their money, and with inaction, people will withhold their money from donating more. We voted on this already; we should get this done.”
Antioch is also donating approximately $60,000 in a private-public partnership toward the memorial. The earmarked revenue came from VIP ticket sales to a “Thursday Night Concert” kickoff, with Chris Cagle, in 2024, with additional proceeds from the county in the form of property tax disbursements from veteran home ownership.
The revised design places the concrete base further east of the merge at Orchard and Depot streets. The memorial will contain monolith plaques to all the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
“I just want to make sure we are doing this all legally,” said trustee Rebecca McNeill.
Requests for comment by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on waterway statutes were not returned.
