County commissioners won't open meetings with prayer

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Red Willow County's commissioners won't open their meetings with a prayer or a pledge after a motion to do so failed for lack of a second at their regular weekly meeting Monday morning.

Commissioner Leigh Hoyt said that he would like to open commissioners' meetings with a prayer, either by himself or possibly a member of the McCook Ministerial Association, and the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.

"I think it's an excellent idea," Hoyt said. "We need any and all help we can get with the issues before us."

Fellow commissioner Steve Downer questioned whether the American Civil Liberties Union would have a problem with a governmental body opening with a religious act. "We've said the pledge to hold this office, pledging to support the beliefs of this country," Downer said. "It doesn't hurt to renew that."

Hoyt said, "We've got bigger problems to worry about than the ACLU coming in and complaining about us praying."

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said he sees no reason to change the way commissioners have always conducted their meetings. He said only about 12 or 15 Nebraska counties open their commissioners' meetings with a prayer and/or the pledge of allegiance.

McNutt said some governmental bodies open with a prayer, some with the pledge, some with both. County Clerk Pauletta Gerver said some boards open with a moment of silence.

Hoyt's motion to open commissioners' meeting with a prayer and a pledge failed for lack of a second from either Downer or McNutt.

Gerver suggested that, at the least, commissioners hang an American flag in their meeting room.

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