The Levy County Commission is on its way to accepting the gift of a 6-foot-by 5-foot-by-3-foot black granite monument detailing the Ten Commandments and what could be an 11th one: “Love God and Keep His Commandments.”

An application by the Tri County Pregnancy Center of Williston was presented by County Coordinator Fred Moody after being brought to the commission's meeting on Tuesday by Sheriff Johnny Smith.

Moody announced the application to the board which received the news without comment.

Under guidelines adopted by the commission earlier this year, the application is announced at one commission meeting and a vote is taken on the application at the next meeting. The vote will be at the Nov. 17 commission meeting at 9 a.m. at the county courthouse in Bronson.

According to the handwritten application by Debra Osborn, executive director of the center,  “The monument is a display of the Ten Commandments our nation was created on the principles of Christianity. The Christian Faith including the Ten Commandments has been a driving force in the Consitution, Bill of Rights and numerous other documents that have played a part in the history of our nation.”

The application says the monument will contain the Commandments as found in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 20 of The Bible, King James Version.

    The structure will not be permanent, according to the application, “however the temendous size and weight alone will prevent its quick removal.”  The granite blocks will sit on a concrete foundation and will be located in the Forum area between the Levy County Courthouse and the annex housing the State Attorney and Veterans Service offices, both red brick buildings.

    The proposed monument is a duplicate of one sitting on the lawn of the Chiefland City Hall and the steps of the Dixie County Courthouse in Cross City. Both of those monuments were donated to the respective governments.

    In the case of the Chiefland Commandments, Pastor Travis Hudson of Hardeetown Baptist Church was a driving force behind erecting the monument.  

    Because the guidelines adopted by the commission require the organization or individual putting up the monument pay the expenses for it, maintain it and guarantee covering the cost of any litigation arising from its placement, the pregnancy center included a copy of its Aug. 31 board minutes  noting “The Board is in majority agreement that the Center will fill out the monument application.

    “Joe Anderson from the Anderson Corporation will put in writing that he or his company will back any legal or insurance cost associated with monument.”

    Members of the pregnancy center's board are: Ruth Taber, president; Dr. Wade Bullock, vice president; James Davis, treasurer; Chastity Salmons, secretary; Ken Boyer, Kay K. Clark, Phillp Cothron, the Rev. Steve Liles and Chip Webb.

    Moody said, his understanding of the guidelines is that the organization that erects the monument owns it and all bills associated with it. He said the only role the county is playing is in allowing the placement.