Jefferson City set to return controversial pavers back to Deborah Cooper Park on Adrian’s Island
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (KMIZ)
A settlement was reached Thursday after Edith Vogel sued the city of Jefferson City in late March for removing two of her stone pavers from the Deborah Cooper Park on Adrian's Island.
Vogel said she bought two pavers last summer for the section at the park but they were removed shortly after the park opened in December. "I applied. I paid. It was made and it was placed and then a couple of days later it was removed by the mayor," Vogel said.
The following was written on Vogel's pavers: "Union Camp Lillies notes: deciding against attack the confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price turned from Jefferson City Oct. 7, 1864."
The city said they received complaints similar to a message that was on a plaque removed from city property in the fall of 2020. The city has agreed to put them back by April 29. , 15 days from the settlement day, and pay Vogel's court fees of $12,000.
The city said they settled to pay $12,000 in legal fees because it would have cost the city more money to keep fighting.
Vogel said the reason why she fought so hard for the stone pavers to return back to the park is because the engraved text displayed an important message of history to Jefferson City.
Vogel said she was returned $2,000, the money she paid for the pavers, but she donated it to the Parks and Recreation Foundation.
Vogel told ABC 17 News that she is a fifth-generation heir to Camp Lillie and back in 1864, the Union Army used her family home as a headquarters, so she says to her, it's like removing her history. Vogel says she would have liked to see Jefferson City's Mayor Carrie Tergin resolve the removal differently.
"I mean, I'm not mad at her. She should of thought it out a little better and consulted her city council again and if they would have made the decision, no you can't put that down there when I applied for it, it would have been a different story," Vogel said.
Vogel says now, she just wants to move pass the event. "I hope we can just let this rest and maybe somewhere along the line we'll be able to historically recognize more places here in Jefferson City that should be mentioned," Vogel said.
There are currently 54 pavers on the island and the city parks department will decide where to put the pavers but they will need to place them equally to the others.
When ABC 17 News spoke to Mayor Tergin, she says the city would have been open to the idea of using the city council, but Vogel never asked.
"She certainly never came to council to ask for the pavers to be put back, instead she went the lawsuit route which ultimately cost money for the citizens," Tergin said.
Tergin also told ABC 17 News that the campaign used for community members to get custom pavers has been canceled. Tergin said if and when the campaign comes back, the rules will be more clear.
