CRESTVIEW — The rebel flag is fluttering once more above Confederate Park.

City councilmen Joe Blocker and JB Whitten on Monday voted in favor of raising the rebel flag below the American flag.

The flags were hoisted Wednesday morning under that configuration with multiple generations of descendants of William A. “Uncle Bill” Lundy in attendance.

Lundy, who died in 1957, was purportedly the last surviving Civil War veteran in Florida, although some people, citing federal census records, question his record.

The Crestview Lions Club established the memorial in 1958. Since 1996, the City Council has heard numerous requests — particularly from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Okaloosa County branch — to have the flag removed from public property. 

“This is the Confederate Park,” Lundy’s great-grandson, Greg Lundy, said. “It is not the William Lundy Confederate Park. It’s for all Confederate soldiers. It’s not just for my great-granddaddy.”

“I don’t know who it is that’s causing this whole shebang,” William Lundy’s grandson, Dell Lundy, said, referring to the current controversy over the flag flying above city property. “This is a piece of history that doesn’t need to be destroyed. Our granddaddy just happened to be one of the last three Confederate States veterans. He represents a whole group. This is just something we need to keep in our history books.”

Greg Lundy said their ancestor was honored by both the state of Florida and the 82nd U.S. Congress under President Dwight Eisenhower for his purported wartime service.

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WANT TO GO?

The Crestview City Council will hold a public meeting to discuss Confederate Park at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at Warriors Hall in the Whitehurst Memorial Building. Residents wishing to address the council should complete a speaker’s card and present it to City Clerk Betsy Roy before the meeting. Speakers will each have three minutes. A group may be represented by one spokesperson who will have 10 minutes to speak. A council policy making and legislative session will follow public comments.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's Confederate battle flag flies again

CRESTVIEW — The city will temporarily reinstall the Confederate battle flag at the William "Bill" Lundy Memorial.

The City Council on Monday voted 2-1 to raise the flag at its former East First Avenue location. Councilmen Joe Blocker and JB Whitten voted yes on the motion; Bill Cox voted no.

In addition, the council unanimously set an Aug. 6 special meeting to discuss the monument and rebel flag. The Crestview Lions Club established the memorial in 1958 to honor Bill Lundy, whom many people believe was Florida's last surviving Confederate soldier. However, some people, citing census records, dispute the claim and say he was just 5 years old at the end of the Civil War.

LUNDY FAMILY MEMBERS SPEAK

A packed Council Chamber included a number of Lundy's descendants; some expressed concern for the process that led city workers to abruptly remove the flag, without properly folding it, July 9.

They also questioned whether the flag's removal signaled a similar fate for the monument.

Delano Lundy, one of Bill Lundy's grandsons, said the monument should remain on public display. It is a part of Florida, not just Lundy, history, he said.

"That thing was put there for a reason early on, years ago, and people have gotten together … to show their appreciation for what our ancestors have done — not just the Lundy ancestors," he said.

Greg Lundy, Bill's great-grandson, agreed.

"That memorial doesn't just represent Granddaddy; it represents all the Confederate veterans," he said. "This was handled in a very unorthodox way, as far as I'm concerned."

'DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS'

Mayor David Cadle said he authorized replacing the rebel flag with the American flag after Foy Lundy, another of Bill's grandsons, approached him and the city's Public Services director.

When Foy Lundy proposed moving the monument and flag to private property, it seemed like a sensible solution, Cadle said. However, "I thought he was speaking for a great number of people, but as I found out later, he wasn't."

"Mr. Foy Lundy, he was very passionate when he came to meet with me and Mr. (Wayne) Steele," Cadle said. "… He felt his grandfather was being dragged through the mud every other year about this issue."

Since 1996, the City Council has heard numerous requests — particularly from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Okaloosa County branch — to have the flag removed from public property. The challenge, Cadle said, was, "How do we address this situation that polarizes our city every other year? There's no end in sight to it, as everybody knows."

The monument's proposed location — which wasn't mentioned — "was not in a good place," Cadle said. "That monument needs to be represented well; it does not need to be disrespected," he said.

As for Cadle's decision to remove the flag through the Public Services Department, Councilman JB Whitten said he felt the mayor "dealt in good faith with what he was doing."

"The biggest criticism I heard was that, regardless of the good intentions, it was all done behind closed doors," Whitten said.

SETTING A PUBLIC MEETING

Ray Nelson, president of NAACP's Okaloosa branch, said his position on the flag hasn't changed, but he understands and respects the idea of raising the flag where it once fluttered and properly lowering it and folding it one last time.

At one point during the meeting, there was a motion to not just set a public meeting on the monument, but also raise the flag and lower it properly.

"That's convoluted," Councilman Bill Cox said.

Raising the flag just to lower it again would be "counterproductive," Dexter Lundy said.

Instead, Councilmen Joe Blocker, Cox and Whitten unanimously voted to just set the special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at a location to be announced.

Later, Blocker motioned to raise the Confederate flag and let it flutter beneath the American flag — if only until the council takes formal action on its fate after hearing from the public next week.

He and Whitten voted yes; Cox voted no.

Email News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview resurrects Confederate flag — for now

CRESTVIEW — The City Council has voted down a proposed fire assessment fee, so how can councilmen bridge a more than $2 million budget shortfall?

For several years, the city has infused the general fund — day-to-day operating money for city departments — with transfers from the utility fund. However, for the 2015-16 budget year, the utility fund is too low to allow transfers.

Lately, council members have suggested these alternatives to implementing the fire assessment.

JOE BLOCKER: Get citizen input on budgeting

Blocker asked City Clerk Betsy Roy to present three options, which she did at a July 6 council workshop. Options included implementing the fire assessment fee, raising water and sewer rates or increasing the millage assessment. Monday, Blocker proposed forming four options with citizen and mayoral input.

BILL COX: Raise water and sewer rates

Several years ago, consultants recommended that Crestview raise water and sewer fees so they're comparable with surrounding communities. A 4 percent increase in water fees, 2 percent sewer rate increase, and a $1 monthly storm water assessment could generate about $335,000, Cox said.

SHANNON HAYES: Increase ad valorem tax

But even if the city does this, a 2-mill ad valorem tax increase would generate less than the fire assessment, Hayes said, with "the same people who have not been paying (taxes) still not paying.” The fire assessment fee would cover all city water customers.

MICKEY RYTMAN: Hire a city manager

A full-time city manager who daily handles the city’s finances could help identify areas where trimming is needed or duplications occur, Rytman said. He opposed the fire assessment fee and millage increase “because it puts a burden on people.” Hiring a city manager would require voters to change the city charter, Roy said.

JB WHITTEN: Raise the millage if needed

Whitten said rather than setting the millage rate — which the council must establish at its July 27 meeting — and then fitting the budget around it, city leaders should evaluate the budget and choose a millage rate that supports it.

WANT TO GO?

The Crestview City Council's next regular meeting is 6 p.m. July 27 at City Hall on Wilson Street. Those who want to offer suggestions can complete a yellow card, available outside the council chamber, and turn it in to the city clerk before the meeting.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 5 councilmen, 5 opinions: How to resolve the Crestview budget shortfall