Council is asked to remove Confederate monument

T’keisha Chandler asked the Demopolis City Council Thursday to remove the Confederate Monument at the intersection of North Main and Capitol streets and for the removal of all Confederate flags from yards and vehicles.

National field director for the New Human Rights Organization, Chandler said history needs to be taught in class, not by monuments to the days of slavery.

In 2016 the Confederate soldier on the monument was toppled when a police car ran into its base. Instead of putting the soldier back up, the city opted to replace it with an obelisk.

Chandler said the monument should have been removed completely at that time.

“It’s about time now that we take action … and remove the Confederate monument,” she said. “I feel like we should just try to come together and make some peace here in Demopolis before things get out of hand.”

She continued, “I feel like we should be one of the cities in the state who takes the steps to quell this violence that’s going on around the world.”

Chandler also advanced the opinion that Confederate flags on personal property should be banned to stop all the reminders of slavery. “I would be so grateful if you would get on board,” she told the Council.

“Let’s move some of this stuff out of the way,” she said. “Let’s do it peacefully.”

Her remarks, however, didn’t go unchallenged. During the public comments section of the Council meeting, Wanda Ulmer said the Black Lives Matter movement is based on Marxism.

“Marxism has nothing to do with any race, color or creed except to eliminate any free speech.,” Ulmer said. “They are here to eliminate culture.”

It has not stopped with monuments, she continued. “Once it gets started, everything will be eliminated except for what Marxism believes.”

Once the meeting adjourned, Chandler and Ulmer took their argument outside of Rooster Hall. Police Chief Rex Flowers was on hand as words were exchanged.

Before Chandler spoke, the City Council made an adjustment to the city’s budget, which saves some $67,000.

The action provides the Public Works department with a new wood-chipper instead of a knuckle boom that would have cost $134,000. Ashford Jackson, Public Works supervisor, said the boom was able to be repaired. A wood-chipper will handle all the debris from yard work and storms. ADEM regulations prohibit burning the wood.

Jackson said the wood chips can be given to the public for mulch, used as compost and may even be sold to local mills for fuel.

Paul Miller, plant manager for Foster Farms, received the okay for an adjustment to the company’s tax abatement.

Earlier Foster Farms received the sales tax abatement for some $3.8 million of work. Since then another $2.2 million in capital improvements have been scheduled. Instead of going through the process of a second request, Foster Farms asked for an amendment to the previous resolution.

The Council approved a public assembly application from the Marengo County Community in Action program July 11. The Drug Free Kite Flying Event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Landing.

The Council awarded a $4,200 contract to Stewart Construction to demolish property at 505 E. Capital.