News from Sept.
1, 2005 issue
County may reconsider Commandments
Based on legal advise and mounting pressure from the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), it appears that the Crittenden County
Fiscal Court may consider reversing an earlier decision to allow
a 10 Commandments monument on the courthouse lawn.
During the county court's July meeting, Rev. Tony Alexander requested
that magistrates approve the placement of a stone 10 Commandments
monument outside the courthouse facing Main Street.
After some discussion, a couple of magistrates suggested putting
off answering the request until further research could be done
on whether the county could allow the 10 Commandments there without
creating legal problems. However, that idea failed to garner much
support, and Alexander's request was eventually unanimously approved
by those at the meeting, allowing God's laws to be etched in stone
and set in the courtyard.
Early last week, the county received a Kentucky Open Records request
from the ACLU, seeking information regarding the county's policy
for non-governmental monuments at the courthouse and copies of
other records. The ACLU is the leading advocate of the U.S. Supreme
Court's interpretation of the U.S. Constitution's language separating
church and state. The ACLU asked for minutes of the July 19 meeting
when the fiscal court approved the monument's placement.
On Friday, Crittenden County Attorney Alan Stout drafted a memorandum
and mailed it to each magistrate outlining his research regarding
the proposed 10 Commandments display.
Upon request, Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown provided
The Crittenden Press with a copy of the memorandum which advises
the court to reconsider action taken in July allowing the monument.
The two-page memorandum lists five points, citing legal opinions
and court cases, explaining the ACLU's Open Records request and
outlining legal consequences the county could face if it moves
forward with the plan. The memo pointed to a similar case that
cost $200,000 to defend.
The fiscal court is set to meet today (Thursday) at 9 a.m., at
the courthouse. The 10 Commandments issue is on the agenda for
the special meeting along with five other items.
Rev. Alexander said he is disappointed. The monument is on order
and about half of the necessary $1,232 has been raised to pay
for it. If it can't be at the courthouse, Alexander said he would
find a suitable, privately-owned location in Marion to display
the monument.
City wants
to develop Lake George
It's all in the preliminary planning stages, but if City Administrator
Garry Barber and some other city staff members have their way,
Lake George may one day be a full-fledged vacation getaway
or at least something close to it.
Barber said he and other city employees have been surveying the
site and brainstorming about ideas for developing the shaded western
shore of the lake.
Lake George is located at the end of Earl Patmor Road off of Chapel
Hill Road. The lake contains 50 acres of water surface and there
are several acres of city-owned land adjoining the lake. All of
it is largely undeveloped other than a pavilion and some picnic
tables.
Barber said the idea is to make electricity, water and sewer available
at Lake George.
"It's all in the very early planning stages right now,"
he said. "We don't have any idea on cost estimates yet."
However, Barber said the possibilities for recreational uses are
enormous.
Until recently, Marion had no place for RVs or any type of developed
camp sites. Now, Jerry Mobley at S&J Barbecue has a few camper
sites on his place off U.S. 60 West, but the demand remains greater
than the supply during peak periods such as hunting seasons.
"We're putting the plan together right now and we're going
to present it to the city council," Barber continued. "We
hope to start working on this within the next year."