Monument design called into question

T’keisha Chandler returned to the Demopolis City Council Thursday, again asking the city remove the Confederate Monument.

“If we are going to be the City of the People, we have to be inclusive,” she told the Council.

In 2016 the Confederate soldier on the monument was toppled when a police car ran into its base. Chandler said the monument should have been removed completely at that time.

She also said it was her understanding that what was recommended to replace the monument was not what was finally done.

Mayor John Laney said the Council took into consideration the recommendations, but the final vote is what counts.

Councilman Charles Jones Jr., who was not at the previous meeting, disagreed. “That was not what we voted for,” he said.

At the meeting April 20, 2017, the Council voted 3-2 to replace the soldier with a 7-foot tall obelisk and to expand the monument to honor fallen soldiers from all wars, rather than only the Civil War as it originally stood.

Councilmen Jones, Nathan Hardy and Harris Nelson voted in favor of the replacement at that 2017 meeting. Councilmen Bill Meador and Cleveland Cole voted against the proposal. Mayor Laney abstained.

Mayor Laney said the Council serves all the people of Demopolis. He encouraged Chandler to return to the group with a plan that it can consider.

Chandler is the national field director for the New Human Rights Organization. A Demopolis native and product of its school system, she said the monument to the Confederacy has always offended her and other Blacks in the community.

When two band students from Demopolis High School tragically drowned in October 2019, Becky Jordan donated $5,000 to the Theo Ratliff Center to begin a Water Safety Program.

Ed Ward, director of the center, presented Jordan with a plaque thanking her for spearheading the program, which has received another $1,000 in contributions.

A section of the retaining wall along Arch Street is collapsing. The Council voted to spend no more than $1,000 for a 220-foot fence set 12 feet from the existing wall. It will have wooden posts and metal cable railings.

The Council passed a mask ordinance but with amendments proposed by Councilman Nelson. Violators will be fined $25 for each incident, and the ordinance will expire at midnight after a council meeting to end it. The measure passed 4-1 with Councilman Meador voting against it.

Bobby Armstead, director of West Alabama Public Transportation, asked the Council for $10,800 in matching funds to purchase a new van. He said the entire WAPT fleet is aging.

Councilman Jones asked if Armstead could give the city free advertising on the van to promote Demopolis when it travels out of town.

Police Chief Rex Flowers announced an increase in reward money for the person who offers information leading to an arrest in the murder of Shannon Steele. The young mother was shot Dec. 28, 2017, while her two young children were in the home with her.

David Lyons, the new director of the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce, introduced himself to the Council and said he looks forward to working with them in promoting the city.

Project manager Baker said he has gotten kits to test the water quality in the ditch along South Ash Avenue. Recent rains have prevented testing, but he hopes to complete the work this weekend.

In other action the Council approved:

• The appointment of Drew Martin to the Library Board.
• A new flood ordinance.
• Professional services and Advisory Contract of $4,500 with Local Government Services, LLC. to develop an agreement with CATV.
• The installation of a street light at 1802 A St.
• Appointing the City Clerk to perform duties for the municipal election.
• Compensation for an absentee election manager.