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County Board committee will recommend no Ten Commandments at Courthouse

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Members of the County Board Building Committee will recommend the full board back away from erecting a Ten Commandments monument on Courthouse property.

The committee was assigned to look into the issue and make a recommendation after a proposal, and controversy, regarding placing a Ten Commandments monument on Courthouse property. The proposal piqued the interest of Rob Sherman, an atheist activist who spoke in opposition at the last County Board meeting. The committee met Tuesday evening and reluctantly decided to recommend against further official action.

The committee will further recommend allowing a private group to spearhead an effort to erect a Ten Commandments monument on property near the Courthouse owned by Clearwave Communications. Clearwave has offered use of some property.

Committee members Danny Gibbs, Jonathan Prather and Jim Fowler decided the likelihood of a lawsuit if a monument is erected should make the board pause. Fowler told the other committee members a lawsuit, by Sherman or someone else, could cost taxpayers as much as $100,000.

"And if he beats us, we have to pick up his tab," Fowler said.

Prather reluctantly agreed with Gibbs and Fowler.

"It&#39;s money we don&#39;t have to spend," Prather said.

Gibbs came around to agreeing with a board member with whom he politely differed in a meeting in October. George Henley suggested the board accept Clearwave&#39;s offer so people at least would have the chance to see the Ten Commandments monument somewhere in downtown Harrisburg.

"It&#39;s just like George Henley said -- do you want the Ten commandments or do you want a fight?" Gibbs said.

Sheriff Keith Brown, who attended the meeting due to his official role as overseer of the Courthouse, said he has always been concerned about the slippery slope a Ten Commandments monument could cause.

"My position has always been, what else do we have to put up if we put it up," Brown said, referring to religious practices like Wicca.

Gibbs thanked Clearwave for their offer before closing the meeting.

"It&#39;s been a learning experience. You went through it, Jim," Gibbs said.

"Oh yeah," Fowler said.

Gibbs was referring to Fowler&#39;s unsuccessful effort when in the state legislature to get a bill passed allowing certain Ten Commandments displays on school or other public property.

All the committee members and Brown agreed the process has been civil among both supporters and opponents.