“I have no intention on removing this memorial”

At City Hall, the Seneca mayor vowed he will not accede to a Wisconsin-based group and take down an embedded stone memorial at the water plant.  Dan Alexander made his statement at the start of last night’s meeting—-before three audience members voiced their support and before the city council held a brief closed meeting on the subject.  The Freedom From Religion Foundation raised the question of whether the cross is a violation of the separation of state from church.  But Mayor Alexander called what was done at the water plant a subtle tribute to construction worker Chuck Keeler who died after an accident there.  It was a tribute, the mayor said, done as a collaborative effort of all parties.  The mayor described the parties as “deeply hurt” by the accusation that Seneca violated a principle of the U-S Constitution and said, “While I appreciate the concern that some may think this display to be an endorsement by a public body of a certain religion, it is my opinion that this memorial and remembrance to life lost; which is located at an operating facility, behind a locked fence, unseen from public view, is anything but a religious endorsement.”