As city commissioners weigh options on where to move the Confederate monument that dominates Munn Park, people on both sides of the issue continue to give their opinions at the board’s twice-a-month meetings.
Eight people spoke to commissioners about the monument during the period at the end of their meeting reserved for audience comments. First were six speakers — three of them from out of town — who favor keeping the 108-year-old monument in place, then two Lakeland residents who want them to hold course with a December decision to move it.
Commissioners voted 4-3 in December to move the monument away from Munn Park and asked City Manager Tony to outline options and costs for moving it.
Delgado followed up March 13 with a report recommending the monument be moved to either Roselawn Cemetery or Veterans Park and listed costs of up to $225,000. A source of funding — public or private — has not been identified yet.
Commissioners have not said yet when they will decide where to place the monument, which memorializes Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War.
The first two speakers today challenged Delgado’s report, saying it neglected the contributions made to early Lakeland by Confederate veterans and parroted opinions of “radicals” who want to displace Confederate memorials.
Commissioners had no immediate response to the people who spoke about the monument.
Here are tweets based on each of the speaker’s talks, followed by social meida posts about other parts of today’s commission meeting:
Sheila Tindle tells commissioners that numerous Confederate veterans helped build Lakeland and had significant roles in the community before and after Lakeland was incorporated in 1884. #lkld pic.twitter.com/T2WxcPYT2c
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Tampa’s David McCallister, representing Save Southern Heritage and sporting his trademark rebel-flag tie, tells commissioners their staff’s memo on the Confederate monument was one-sided and neglected views of those who want it to stay in Munn Park. #lkld pic.twitter.com/VE56SkZFM9
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
A man who introduced himself as Anthony who recently moved here from Illinois said he doesn’t want tax money spent on moving the monument. “Leave it there. It’s not hurting nobody.” #lkld pic.twitter.com/Ay6MFIYUQc
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Jenna Bernstein of Tampa said she collected signatures at Munn Park yesterday on a petition to keep the monument there and she showed commissioners a video on her phone to record comments from statue supporters. #lkld pic.twitter.com/yosb7vXZTV
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Judy Smith, a frequent speaker at commission meetings: Reopen the monument discussion and give it to a vote of the people. The decision to move it was an example of mob rule, she said. #lkld pic.twitter.com/AwpNW0wrar
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
H.K. Edgerton of Asheville, N.C., claims that former UN Ambassador Andrew Young told him Dr. Martin Luther King would have sought preservation of Confederate monuments. #lkld pic.twitter.com/kxQXFKFl34
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Reginald Ardis of the Lakeland Chapter of the NAACP says it’s time to take action on moving the monument. Perhaps it should move into storage since it has become divisive, he says. #lkld pic.twitter.com/5ocvJlA89A
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Loretta Halliburton of Lakeland: Please represent me and abide by the decision to move the monument. “God bless all of you because you have a hard decision to make,” she tells commissioners. #lkld pic.twitter.com/ZRNWXUg44T
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Also at today’s commission meeting:
Lots of proclamations at today’s City Commission meeting. Groups/causes honored: Boys & Girls Club, child abuse prevention, community development, crime victims rights, donate life, fair housing, service recognition, parental alienation awareness, safety telecommunications #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
City Commmission approves recommendations from Nicole Travis to appoint Brandon Eady and Harry Bryant to the @LakelandCRA Advisory Board. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
After questions from three commissioners, City Commission unanimously approves Mayor @DozenDad Bill Mutz’ appointments of Jack English & Ashley Troutman to the Utility Committee. Commissioners Troller, Franklin & Dunn said they’d like to see members with utility experience. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Background info on appointments to the CRA Advisory Board and Utility Committee: https://t.co/XUdPRfdaaL @DozenDad Mutz said he recommended English for utility because of his previous experience and Troutman to bring a younger perspective. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
City Commission considers a change to the agreement with FedEx for parking at the Orange Street garage downtown. Addition of ADA spaces on the top floor could lead to FedEx eventually getting reserved spaces on nearby streets, under the agreement being considered. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Update to the FedEx contract with the city for downtown parking was approved 4-3 with Commissioners Madden, Read and Troller voting against. https://t.co/RN1Hf4bKAa #lkld Dissenting commissioners expressed concerns about possibility that on-street parking could be affected. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Commission approves $930k contract for Miller Construction for interior construction on the remodeling of the 3-story @LakelandPD headquarters. https://t.co/nGIODHfd8u #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Commissioner Franklin: Too many people visit @SunnFunFlyIn by watching it from outside the airport. He urges people to go inside; the proceeds go back into the community, he said. The former Navy pilot was asked his favorite part. “The warbirds.” Of course. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
@mylkldelectric staff recommends the city purchase Calpine unit from Auburndale for $10.1 million. Total project cost including installation is $36 million. Background: https://t.co/1ZYuoLQbfx #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Here’s background from @theledger on the used Calpine generator that @mylkldelectric wants to purchase: https://t.co/5QfZDhSQV6 #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Commissioner Dunn argues for buying new generators instead of used. @mylkldelectric General Manager Joel Ivy says debt capacity compels the purchase of good used equipment. #lkld
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Vote was 11-2 on the $10.1M generator purchase, with City Commissioners Dunn and Troller voting against. https://t.co/nd0KDAlPUy
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
Cynthia Haffey of @platformART is telling utility committee members about the monument to linemen to be erected sdby the @mylkldelectric building on Lake Mirror. Dedicated is scheduled for June 29. Accompanying her is Becky Ault, whose company will fabricate the monument. #lkld pic.twitter.com/Vfhmb0IOrc
— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) April 2, 2018
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