Donley County Commissioners took no action on a request to put a Ten Commandments marker on the Courthouse Lawn when they met in regular session last Wednesday.
In discussion on the matter, commissioners indicated that they had not received information that they requested from those wanting the marker and said they were not going to rush to make a decision.
Two members of the court expressed concerns about the proposed monument.
“It is not proper on the courthouse square,” Commissioner Dan Sawyer said. “Let them put it on main street or somewhere else.”
Commissioner Donnie Hall said he felt the court needed more input but also worried about future requests.
“You will set a precedent if you approve this,” he said.
Commissioner Andy Wheatly said he was not opposed to the marker and that he was “tired of the trail” that the country is on, and Commissioner Mark White said he felt like the county needed to take its time on the issue.
Judge Jack Hall agreed with White and said the count did not need to “rush into” a decision and that the issue “needs plenty of time and consideration.”
In other county business, commissioners heard from rural resident Johnny Cooper regarding an effort by Burlington Northern Santa Fe to close a railroad crossing near his home near Ashtola. Cooper said he stands to lose property value and business when people can’t bring their horse trailers to his place. He said the railway has agreed to improve a nearby county road, but he asked the county to provide a cost estimate for that work. The court took no formal action on the matter.
The court also heard from Greenbelt Water Authority Board member Gary Campbell, representing the City of Clarendon, who asked the county to support an application for Community Development Block Grant funds that could provide $300,000 to develop the city water wells for use by Greenbelt. Commissioners agreed to support the grant application as long as the county bears no financial obligation and is not responsible for any of the accounting associated with the grant application.
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