Commissioners vote down idea of moving Ten Commandments
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The Rules and Procedures Committee had held an earlier meeting to come up with rules for hanging documents in the historical display currently on exhibit at the front entrance of the building.
But concerns about a threatened lawsuit from Woodbury resident Kyle Williams led the group to try to come up with a plan that might strengthen the county’s case, should the suit come to trial, by weakening William’s assertion he was forced to look at the document since he had to do business in the building and it was prominently displayed at the entrance.
The idea was hotly debated, with some members voicing their disapproval.
“I think they should stay right where they are,” said Commissioner Carl Bouldin, who voted against the plan.
Others noted how the whole situation had resulted from one individual’s desire to execute a power play with the Ten Commandments as his medium.
“I consider myself to be a Christian,” said Commissioner Bill Zechman. “And I, for one, resent the Ten Commandments being used in this manner.”
Despite objections from some members of the Rules and Procedures Committee, the plan passed by a 7-2 vote. A resolution was drawn up and presented at the full commission meeting last Tuesday.
As expected, a large crowd showed up in support of leaving the documents in their present location. Local minister Kenneth Kirby once again spoke in defense of the current display.
“The moving of these documents would defeat their whole purpose,” Kirby said. “When people come to this building, they don’t have the time or the purpose to make a trip to some back room to view these documents.
“This is the same as just getting rid of them. I believe I speak for the majority of our citizens when I say they have a purpose and a right to hang where they are, and we want them to stay there.”
The majority of the commissioners agreed, and the resolution to move the Ten Commandments failed by a 19-4 vote.