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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 17, 2004 Council excoriates Veterans Day flag vandals By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings A narrow Ashland City Council majority voted to repudiate the actions of those who filled the city's flag holders with cement and gravel to disrupt the recent Veterans' Day flag display. Councilor Don Laws had drafted a resolution to express the council's disapproval of the act. Councilors Kate Jackson and Chris Hearn, along with Mayor Alan DeBoer, joined Laws in approving the resolution Tuesday night. "There's a big difference between vandalism and civil disobedience," DeBoer said. "With civil disobedience you step up and say, 'This is why I did it.'" But Councilor John Morrison, a Vietnam veteran and the mayor-elect, worried about draft language in the resolution that said the perpetrators should feel shame and humiliation when recalling their behavior. The word "humiliation" eventually was dropped from the resolution. Morrison, who voted against the resolution with Councilors Cate Hartzell and Alex Amarotico, also said a resolution draws extra attention to the act. "I don't think we know the motive. I'm afraid by taking this action, we may dignify that action," he said. Hal Jamison was the only resident to speak at the meeting about the resolution. He said the people who filled the flag holders could have been making a statement against the Iraq war, without a specific intent to dishonor veterans. "The American flag is associated in history and at this moment ... with American wars," he said. Fast-acting residents cleaned out scores of flag holders so that the display of flags could continue on Veterans' Day. Unknown people had filled the flag holders with gravel on the Fourth of July, but Kiwanis Club members who put up the flags chose at that time not to file a complaint and publicize the damage. The club does plan to press charges if suspects are caught for the latest act. The resolution reads, "The Mayor and Council of Ashland, on behalf of all Ashland citizens, resolve to repudiate the actions of those who used this annual ceremonial display intended to honor our service men and women, to pursue some personal agenda. We wish that in addition to whatever punishment they may receive for damaging public property, that every time they recall this act of disrespect, they will experience a sense of shame." The preface to the resolution acknowledges that some people mistreat the flag as a statement against bad government policies, violence or war. But it says that people who serve in the military should be honored. In other business, the council: o directed city staff to explore options for exerting any control over the proposed Billings Ranch golf course just outside Ashland. o moved an ordinance setting minimum construction densities in multi-family zones forward toward final adoption. The law is intended to promote the construction of apartments, duplexes and townhouses rather than single-family homes in those areas. o heard that - with continued expected growth and a proposed rate increase that would take effect early next year - the Ashland Fiber Network is on track to make a $800,000 debt service payment due next summer. City staff are working on what the rate increase could be and will present the information to the council next month. o learned a Monterey cypress tree on Scenic Drive has been named Tree of the Year. o heard the Ashland City Charter Review Committee will hold public forums next year about aspects of the charter, including whether the city should continue having a "strong mayor" form of government, an elected parks commission and six councilors plus a mayor. o heard an announcement that Ashland's Senora Chela Kocks has been given the prestigious El Pipila de Plata award by the citizens of Guanajuato, Mexico for her work in academic and cultural exchange programs for the two cities. o accepted the Audit Committee Report and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams