June 11th, 2017. For friends and family of Gregory Polinski, it is a day that will stay frozen in their memories forever. The day he died in a rollover crash. Now, loved ones are fighting to keep a memorial to Polinski alive as the City of Papillion tells them is has to be taken down.
Memories of Polinski can be found today at the scene of the crash near 72nd and Cedardale, but family and friends noticed a sign posted next to it this week. It’s an order from the city telling them the memorial must be taken down.
One of Gregory's close friends, Cheyenne Anderson, says the sign is shocking. “When I saw the sign it was like a punch in the face. It was the most disrespectful thing I've ever seen.”
City spokesman Trent Albers says no other memorial “to this degree” has ever been up this long. The city has received several complaints of distracted drivers, either slowing down drastically in the area or even stopping and pulling over. “We certainly want to make sure that section of road is as safe as possible.”
A new policy limits the time a memorial can stay up. Once the notice is posted, it must be taken down in the next 90 days or the city will remove it.
Friend Justin Heatherington says it's like salt on an open wound as loved ones try to move forward. “This just rekindles the fire and puts you back at square one. I come here for closure for my friend.”
But they’re not giving up hope. “I'll put a cross here every single day. I don't care. The city code ordinance people can drive by and take it down every single day. I'll put one right back up,” added Anderson.
The city is now allowing immediate family of a loved one killed in a crash to apply for a “please drive safely” sign. Officials hope that will take the place of a memorial in a more permanent way.
(Photo courtesy of 6 News)