Citizens propose Ten Commandments marker

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court listened to a proposal for putting a historical monument featuring the Ten Commandments on the Courthouse Square during their regular session Monday morning, but commissioners took no action on the matter.

Commissioners Andy Wheatly and Donnie Hall were absent from Monday’s meeting, and County Judge Jack Hall said the proposal is in the early stages and that the court did not want to make a decision on the subject without having all its members present.

Don Hillis and Guy Ellis presented the plans at the meeting, but Hillis told the Enterprise Tuesday that his group doesn’t want to discuss details of the monument until all the commissioners have a chance to see their proposal.

“We don’t want to overstep our boundaries,” Hillis said. “We want to let them take their time.”

Hillis did say he believes the monument would only enhance the Courthouse Square.

County officials did point out Monday that they have previously turned down one citizen’s request to put a different kind of memorial on the square, and the clerk’s office this week is going through minutes to review the details of that previous request.

Before any monument could be erected, the commissioners’ court will first have to agree to the proposal, and then under state law, and by virtue of the Courthouse being designated as a State Archaeological Landmark, the plan will have to be reviewed by the Texas Historical Commission.

THC architect Lyman Labry says there are several specific questions the commission would want to have addressed when it makes a review.

Labry also said the THC review would not focus on the content of the monument but rather how it impacts the grounds and the courthouse and how it relates to the history of the county.

County commissioners are expected to take up the matter at their next regular meeting.