Flagpole park land annexation process being placed on hold

At the Columbia Falls select board meeting on August 8 the town's attorney, Roger Huber, presented copies of an email he received from the attorney representing the Worcester familys' Flagpole of Freedom Park (FFP) project. That letter advised the board that the organizers will be reevaluating their timeline with regards to the project and that they request the annexation review process by the town be placed on an eight-week hold.
Reasons for the request were not offered in the letter or by the phone conversation Huber had with FFP attorney Tim Pease. "It was made known previously to me that Worcester would have some sense on how fundraising was going by mid July," says Huber. "I am speculating this may have something to do with the level of funding they have received to date. I have not been directly told that, but I assume the project is not where they thought they would be, fundraising wise." It was noted while on the call Pease told Huber, "This project is not going away, but expect it to be modified." In response to the question, FFP organizer Rob Worcester stated, "The Flagpole of Freedom Park team does not have plans to change the scope of the project at this time."
As for the reasons for the pause, Worcester says, "The Flagpole of Freedom team has actively been working to move this project forward -- that work will continue without pause. Our request to Columbia Falls provides us the opportunity to continue exploring new and exciting partner relationships that could impact the layout of some park features. We do expect to have a more definitive annexation timeline within the next couple of weeks. The Flagpole of Freedom team respects the time, resources and energy that municipal leaders, residents and stakeholder groups have invested to bring it to fruition, and we look forward to next steps."
The ensuing discussion at the select board meeting then centered on what exactly the town should be doing during the "pause" time. Selectman Jeff Greene said the board should not be complacent and at a minimum they should continue moving forward and be diligent in securing the reimbursement agreement between the town and the Worcesters. "This thing has been going on for four months," said Greene. "I don't like the idea of pausing and possibly things keep moving behind the scenes, and then we are blindsided by it all."
As noted in the letter, the Worcester family states they are committed to seeing that the town is reimbursed for any and all expenditures related to the project to date. "Right now we have expended approximately $15,000, mostly through legal work and consultations," said select board member Nancy Bagley. "We need to be careful moving forward because that is almost all we budgeted for annually in legal work for the town." She noted that attorney Huber has requested the board not pay his invoices until the reimbursement plan has been duly agreed upon.
Huber told the board that he felt it was quite possible the project's structural plan could change dramatically and felt that more information is needed. "We don't know what they may come back with eight weeks from now," said Huber. For instance, if there are no museums or memorial wall and only the flagpole remains, that significantly changes what the town needs to consider in an impact study. If the flagpole is removed from the plan, then the town would still need to conduct further study.
A few people in attendance stated their desire to see the town maintain the momentum in seeking information, analysis and surveys as if the project would continue as planned. "Why would you not just continue on the path you're on to find out as much as possible about the impact a project like this would have on the area and the town?" asked Columbia Falls resident Mary Anderson. Responding to that, Huber explained, "Yes, momentum is good, but at this point, based on this request, we do not know what and if the plan may change." Greene then made a motion for the board to green light the hiring of a second attorney that they discussed at previous meetings. Both attorneys would work together to secure a reimbursement agreement and determine next steps once it is clear where the project is headed.
Currently on its website FFP indicates construction would not begin until 25% of the portion of contributions from "founders members" has been raised. When asked what amount that portion is and how much has been raised to date, Rob Worcester says, "Our team is pleased with the pace and progress of our fundraising efforts, including both corporate partnerships and park founderships. We continue to be surprised by new stakeholder groups coming into the conversation every day. At this time we won't disclose financial information, as we are in the quiet phase of our capital campaign. When our team enters into the public phase of Operation Make History, we will widely and publicly share our success."
FFP organizers have been conducting public informational meetings every two weeks. The last meeting held on July 27 was the third one to date and had five people in attendance. Elizabeth Perham, who has attended all three informational meetings, noted that the organizers indicated nothing about a pause and instead said they had already procured the American flag and a second, backup flag for the flagpole. The schedule for informational meetings can be found at www.flagpoleoffreedom.com/news/.
As of now, the Freedom Flagpole Park project would encompass a 2,500-acre footprint within the Town of Columbia Falls. The question of whether the town should or should not allow annexation of approximately 10,400 acres, for which a state law signed on April 18 permits, if town voters approve, has been at the crux of many meetings over the last four months. Annexation would bring land owned by Worcester that is in the unorganized territories into the coffers of Columbia Falls' tax base. Columbia Falls would then provide oversight and planning for the entire FFP project.
The projected $1 billion project, which is phase one, would feature the largest flagpole in the world at a height exceeding the Empire State Building with an internal glass observation deck, flying the largest American flag – the size of a football field -- ever flown. Phase two, which is also estimated at $1 billion, would add Six Halls of History covering every war, a remembrance wall honoring all 24 million veterans, a village of shops, restaurants, museums and a hotel all connected by eight miles of loop roads which, all combined, organizers estimate would create 8,000 jobs and attract 6 million visitors a year.
"There have been a lot of people and time involved in this project to date. Their time is important, and so we have to see that everyone is compensated for their expertise and effort in this project to date, no matter what is decided tomorrow," said select board Chair Tony Santiago.

Correction: While the article states that Elizabeth Perham said that organizers of FFP stated they had already procured the American flag and a second backup flag, Perham actually was speculating on a rumor she had heard but could not verify. At the next informational meeting conducted on August 10, Perham inquired about the flags and was told that neither flag had been purchased to date.