After putting the Confederate flag conversation on hold for several months, Milton City Council voted unanimously on Monday to replace the Confederate battle flag on its city seal with the First National Flag of the Confederacy.
The decision follows hours of back-and-forth discussion earlier this year between council members and residents on both sides of a sensitive, divisive issue — particularly in the wake of nationwide discord surrounding the symbol.
City Council will finalize the vote at the Dec. 8 meeting, and City Manager Brian Watkins said he expects the change to be implemented within several months.
The Confederate battle flag is one of six flags on the city of Milton's official seal, which also includes the Bonnie Blue flag, a single-star banner often linked to the Confederacy.
"I thought it was a good step forward," Mayor Wesley Meiss said of the decision. "I think we did our homework, came together and it seemed like everybody was pleased — both sides of the community."
In August, members of the Milton black community approached City Council asking that the Confederate flag be removed from the seal and city displays, calling it a symbol of racial prejudice and segregation.
Also known as the Stars and Bars flag, the First National Flag of the Confederacy is already on display at the corner of Stewart Street and U.S. 90 in Milton. That display will remain as is, Watkins said.
Watkins said the estimated cost to completely replace the city's seal is about $20,000, but he expects the expense to be reduced by repainting the displays at Milton City Hall and the Guy Thompson Community Center. City uniforms, stationary and other items with the seal would have to be replaced as needed, Watkins said.
Council initially tabled the decision in July and again in September to allow further consideration and study of the history of the city's seal, which drew some criticism from the community for lack of action on a nationwide issue.
The city received two letters in August calling for the removal of the flags: one from an individual and one on behalf of several local black groups, including the Santa Rosa NAACP Milton branch and 10 churches making up the Fellowship of Churches of Santa Rosa, among others.
Several residents also voiced support earlier this year for keeping the flag, however, calling it a symbol of heritage and history — not hatred.
Councilwoman Marilyn Jones, who made the motion Tuesday to swap the flags, said she considers the change a positive one for the entire community.
"Several people that I've talked to feel like that would be a good compromise, so to speak, or a flag that would be OK," Jones said.
Milton resident Al Brewton commended City Council for taking action to replace the battle flag with the Stars and Bars.
"It took a lot of back-and-forth, a lot of soul-searching," Brewton said. "And I just want to say…that we appreciate y'all for doing the right thing. And the city of Milton can be proud of what we're doing going forward."
