Ten Commandments monument will go up

By John M. Ayers

The Gilchrist County Commission took action to accept a stone-carved Ten Commandments monument from the Joe Anderson, Jr. family of Old Town during their May 2 meeting.
“The Ten Commandments are a very important part of this country’s founding history and are important to the future of this county,” said Mr. Anderson.
Ron McQueen, Gilchrist County administrator, explained to the board that Matt Edmonds contacted Gilchrist County to see if the county commission would accept the donation of the monument and place it in a respectful location.
Commissioner D. Ray Harrison, Jr., made a motion to accept the donation of the Ten Commandments monument and to allow the donor to pay for legal expenses if Gilchrist County is challenged in a court of law. Commissioner Sharon Langford was in favor of the motion and quickly gave her support in the way of a second. The chairman called for a roll call vote as the board accepted the donation with open arms.
Commissioner Tommy Langford asked Gilchrist County Attorney John McPherson if it was all right if the board took this action. Langford asked if he would be violating his oath of office by voting on the motion. The legal counsel told the commission that several local counties have placed Ten Commandment monuments on public property. McPherson did not go into any further detail in explaining how the commission should take action involving the proposed donation.
Ultimately the commission voted unanimously in favor of the motion.