There is a news article (from NWFL Daily News) floating around the internet where Sydney Noyes the County Attorney has been quoted saying the referendum on the ballot regarding the Confederate flag is not binding. You can read the article here Walton County declares Confederate flag vote 'non-binding'
There are also statements from an individual saying that recently elected County Commissioner Danny Glidewell spoke at the BCC meeting "The first time all this came up Danny Glidwell spoke at the BCC asking it be taken down". That's a lie!
Danny Glidewell has been a staunch supporter of leaving that flag alone since the first time he spoke about the issue in 2015 and continues to this day to be a supporter of leaving it alone! 65% of Walton voters agreed with him!
It is also being said that Danny Glidewell was aware of the issue of whether or not this was a binding referendum and that he "never told anyone or asked the question". That is NOT true either. It's another lie! Danny did raise the issue and discussed this with Steven McBroom who was one of the leaders of the effort to keep the flag. Mr. McBroom raised the issue before the BCC . According to minutes of that meeting: "Motion by Commissioner Comander, second by Commissioner Anderson, to adopt Resolution 2018-17 approving the ballot language regarding the Confederate Flag Referendum.
Mr. Steven McBroom thanked the board for allowing the people to decide the fate of the flag and questioned if this would be a binding resolution.
Chairman Chapman and Attorney Christman stated that what is decided by the voters will be binding."
It is also being said the referendum cost the taxpayers $30,000. That's also a lie! I don't have the exact figures in front of me (I will have them in the AM) but because there was already a ballot this was simply an addition to the existing one and did not cot anywhere near $30,000 dollars.
I don't know why people want to keep stirring the s*it in the pot but they obviously like the smell.
*****
Bcc Minutes July 2015
"Mr. Jones stated the discussion begun at the July 14, 2015 Regular Meeting regarding the Confederate Battle Flag had been continued to this meeting and stated that additional comments would be taken. He said staff had met and recommended the following four options: 1. continue to fly the flag; 2 remove the flag; 3. Place the issue on a referendum to allow the public to decide; or 4. replace the current battle flag with the original Confederate States of America Flag and place the battle flag in the Heritage Museum. He said other options would be considered. Commissioner Comander discussed her feelings on the issue and the need to respect everyone on both sides ofthis issue. Motion by Commissioner Comander to replace the flag with the original Confederate States of America flag and donate the battle flag to the Heritage Museum. Commissioner Chapman seconded the motion for discussion. Commissioner Chapman stated that he had researched the topic and briefly discussed the history ofthe flag. He said the goal is to reach a resolution at this meeting. Commissioner Meadows said she wanted to hear public comment. Chairman Imfeld read the county policy regarding meeting decorum and requested that everyone be respectful to those speaking. He announced that many had signed up to speak. The following people spoke in favor of removing the flag: Ms. Milded Wilkerson, Mr. Steve Uhlfelder, Ms. Miffie Hollyday, Mr. Richard Proctor, Rev. Tyrone Broadus, Ms. Kay Brief, Mr. Dave Rauschkolb, Mr. Raymond Jackson, Mr. Thomas Copeland, Ms. Sheila Grimes, Mr. James Huffman, Mr. George Hogans, Ms. Margaret Leonard, Mr. Dale Landry, Mr. Lewis Jennings, Mr. Charles Lee, Mr. Willie Farrow, Ms. Maria Milton, Dr. Rufus L. Wood, Mr. David Pleat, Mr. Simon Sheffield, Ms. Jessica Campfield, Mr. Don Graham, Mr. Charles Williams, Ms. Ciji Wright, Mr. McCaskill, Mr. David Sheffield, Mr. Robert Kennedy, The following people spoke of favor of leaving the flag: Ms. Casey Nelson, Mr. Danny Katro, Mr. Justin Hammond, Mr. Ken Daniel, Mr. Bill Campbell, Mr. Sam McBroom, Mr. Wayne McLeod, Mr. Norm Fowler, Ms. Ashton Glidewell, Ms. Jean Burgess McCraw, Mr. James Moore Crawford, Ms. Beth Gates, Mr. Steve Lassiter
The following people spoke in favor of either a compromise or a referendum: Mr. Danny Glidewell, Mr. Allen White, Mr. Russell Brown, Ms. Betty Letcher, Ms. Jillian Wolfe recommended moving the flag and monument to the original courthouse site in Eucheeanna Valley. She stated that her family owned the land and would allow the monument and flag to be placed at that location. Commissioner Comander called for the question. Commissioner Comander spoke regarding the issue and said that the decision must reflect the entire county. Commissioner Chapman said he had listened to all that was said, reviewed every email sent to him regarding this issue, and had fully researched the topic. He stated he had found no documentation showing that the flag was flown with the monument when it was first erected at the site of the first Walton County Courthouse. He briefly discussed historical events surrounding the flag. He suggested removing the flag and donating it to the Heritage Museum. Commissioner Chapman withdrew his second. Motion to replace the existing battle flag with the first CSA flag and donate the battle flag to the Heritage Museum died for lack of second. Motion by Commissioner Chapman to remove the flag and place it in the Heritage Museum. Chairman Imfeld stepped down as Chair and Commissioner Comander assumed the Chair position. Commissioner Imfeld seconded Commissioner Chapman's motion for discussion. Commissioner Imfeld said that excellent points were made by both sides of the issue. He stated that Walton County should not be a place of oppression nor held to a different standard. He voiced the need to honor heritage and remove hate. He said the decision must be made to benefit all of Walton County.
Commissioner Meadows said she hated that the world is full of hate and sin. She stated that the only one who could change the heart was the Lord Jesus Christ. She discussed the many freedoms which have been taken away (i.e. prayer before meetings, prayer in school, and the determination that certain comments are considered hate speech). She said it was her opinion that this issue has been pushed to cause division between the people of our country and felt a compromise should be reached. Commissioner Meadows stated the monument is a registered historical site and supported the compromise position. Commissioner Imfeld withdrew his second. He voiced a need to bring both sides together. Commissioner Chapman's motion to remove the flag and place it In the Heritage Museum died for lack of a second. Chairman Comander stepped down as Chair and Commissioner Imfeld resumed the Chair position. Motion by Commissioner Comander, Second by Commissioner Meadows, to replace the current battle flag with the original CSA flag and donate the battle flag to the Heritage Museum. Ayes 4, Nays O. Imfeld Aye, Comander Aye, Chapman Aye, Meadows Aye."
There are also statements from an individual saying that recently elected County Commissioner Danny Glidewell spoke at the BCC meeting "The first time all this came up Danny Glidwell spoke at the BCC asking it be taken down". That's a lie!
Danny Glidewell has been a staunch supporter of leaving that flag alone since the first time he spoke about the issue in 2015 and continues to this day to be a supporter of leaving it alone! 65% of Walton voters agreed with him!
It is also being said that Danny Glidewell was aware of the issue of whether or not this was a binding referendum and that he "never told anyone or asked the question". That is NOT true either. It's another lie! Danny did raise the issue and discussed this with Steven McBroom who was one of the leaders of the effort to keep the flag. Mr. McBroom raised the issue before the BCC . According to minutes of that meeting: "Motion by Commissioner Comander, second by Commissioner Anderson, to adopt Resolution 2018-17 approving the ballot language regarding the Confederate Flag Referendum.
Mr. Steven McBroom thanked the board for allowing the people to decide the fate of the flag and questioned if this would be a binding resolution.
Chairman Chapman and Attorney Christman stated that what is decided by the voters will be binding."
It is also being said the referendum cost the taxpayers $30,000. That's also a lie! I don't have the exact figures in front of me (I will have them in the AM) but because there was already a ballot this was simply an addition to the existing one and did not cot anywhere near $30,000 dollars.
I don't know why people want to keep stirring the s*it in the pot but they obviously like the smell.
*****
Bcc Minutes July 2015
"Mr. Jones stated the discussion begun at the July 14, 2015 Regular Meeting regarding the Confederate Battle Flag had been continued to this meeting and stated that additional comments would be taken. He said staff had met and recommended the following four options: 1. continue to fly the flag; 2 remove the flag; 3. Place the issue on a referendum to allow the public to decide; or 4. replace the current battle flag with the original Confederate States of America Flag and place the battle flag in the Heritage Museum. He said other options would be considered. Commissioner Comander discussed her feelings on the issue and the need to respect everyone on both sides ofthis issue. Motion by Commissioner Comander to replace the flag with the original Confederate States of America flag and donate the battle flag to the Heritage Museum. Commissioner Chapman seconded the motion for discussion. Commissioner Chapman stated that he had researched the topic and briefly discussed the history ofthe flag. He said the goal is to reach a resolution at this meeting. Commissioner Meadows said she wanted to hear public comment. Chairman Imfeld read the county policy regarding meeting decorum and requested that everyone be respectful to those speaking. He announced that many had signed up to speak. The following people spoke in favor of removing the flag: Ms. Milded Wilkerson, Mr. Steve Uhlfelder, Ms. Miffie Hollyday, Mr. Richard Proctor, Rev. Tyrone Broadus, Ms. Kay Brief, Mr. Dave Rauschkolb, Mr. Raymond Jackson, Mr. Thomas Copeland, Ms. Sheila Grimes, Mr. James Huffman, Mr. George Hogans, Ms. Margaret Leonard, Mr. Dale Landry, Mr. Lewis Jennings, Mr. Charles Lee, Mr. Willie Farrow, Ms. Maria Milton, Dr. Rufus L. Wood, Mr. David Pleat, Mr. Simon Sheffield, Ms. Jessica Campfield, Mr. Don Graham, Mr. Charles Williams, Ms. Ciji Wright, Mr. McCaskill, Mr. David Sheffield, Mr. Robert Kennedy, The following people spoke of favor of leaving the flag: Ms. Casey Nelson, Mr. Danny Katro, Mr. Justin Hammond, Mr. Ken Daniel, Mr. Bill Campbell, Mr. Sam McBroom, Mr. Wayne McLeod, Mr. Norm Fowler, Ms. Ashton Glidewell, Ms. Jean Burgess McCraw, Mr. James Moore Crawford, Ms. Beth Gates, Mr. Steve Lassiter
The following people spoke in favor of either a compromise or a referendum: Mr. Danny Glidewell, Mr. Allen White, Mr. Russell Brown, Ms. Betty Letcher, Ms. Jillian Wolfe recommended moving the flag and monument to the original courthouse site in Eucheeanna Valley. She stated that her family owned the land and would allow the monument and flag to be placed at that location. Commissioner Comander called for the question. Commissioner Comander spoke regarding the issue and said that the decision must reflect the entire county. Commissioner Chapman said he had listened to all that was said, reviewed every email sent to him regarding this issue, and had fully researched the topic. He stated he had found no documentation showing that the flag was flown with the monument when it was first erected at the site of the first Walton County Courthouse. He briefly discussed historical events surrounding the flag. He suggested removing the flag and donating it to the Heritage Museum. Commissioner Chapman withdrew his second. Motion to replace the existing battle flag with the first CSA flag and donate the battle flag to the Heritage Museum died for lack of second. Motion by Commissioner Chapman to remove the flag and place it in the Heritage Museum. Chairman Imfeld stepped down as Chair and Commissioner Comander assumed the Chair position. Commissioner Imfeld seconded Commissioner Chapman's motion for discussion. Commissioner Imfeld said that excellent points were made by both sides of the issue. He stated that Walton County should not be a place of oppression nor held to a different standard. He voiced the need to honor heritage and remove hate. He said the decision must be made to benefit all of Walton County.
Commissioner Meadows said she hated that the world is full of hate and sin. She stated that the only one who could change the heart was the Lord Jesus Christ. She discussed the many freedoms which have been taken away (i.e. prayer before meetings, prayer in school, and the determination that certain comments are considered hate speech). She said it was her opinion that this issue has been pushed to cause division between the people of our country and felt a compromise should be reached. Commissioner Meadows stated the monument is a registered historical site and supported the compromise position. Commissioner Imfeld withdrew his second. He voiced a need to bring both sides together. Commissioner Chapman's motion to remove the flag and place it In the Heritage Museum died for lack of a second. Chairman Comander stepped down as Chair and Commissioner Imfeld resumed the Chair position. Motion by Commissioner Comander, Second by Commissioner Meadows, to replace the current battle flag with the original CSA flag and donate the battle flag to the Heritage Museum. Ayes 4, Nays O. Imfeld Aye, Comander Aye, Chapman Aye, Meadows Aye."
