OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — Not so fast…
Despite published reports that the Tyrants Bench in Oil City’s Justus Park was being removed from the park after a complaint from The American Atheists Legal Center (AALC) about the wording on the bench “Man Who Aren’t Governed By God, Will Be Governed By Tyrants” infringing on their constitutional rights,
Oil City mayor William P. Moon Jr. confirmed after Thursday’s City Council Meeting that no official action on the bench has been taken.
“Our solicitor just went off (at the last meeting),” Moon said. “We technically really haven’t (voted to move the bench). No official vote has been taken. We are working with the attorney right now.”
At the December 1 council meeting, city solicitor Bob Varsek said the “issue was considered resolved,” and a story on exploreVenango.com stated that council had voted in executive session in November to remove the bench. However, votes taken in executive session have to be taken in public for them to be binding.
Jason Reed, the commander of the Oil City VFW which donated the bench in 2003, said his organization is working with the city and the AALC to get the matter resolved.
“There has to be some compromise,” Reed said during the public comments at Thursday’s meeting.
“There will be no surrender. We aren’t backing down. We aren’t saying it’s staying, but we aren’t saying it’s going away, either. It’s become national news. But it’s still a work in progress. The bench is still there. We haven’t lost it. Everyday I drive by it, and it’s still there that’s one more day. Everything is being decided, and we appreciate council and the city solicitor for working with us.”
A packed city council chambers room saw many local residents — some even from other parts of Venango County — speak their minds on the issue.
“We want the bench back,” Ron Johnson told council. “You received a letter from (the AALC) threatening legal action if it wasn’t removed. In five to seven days, you will receive a certified letter saying you will be taken to court if you don’t bring it back. There are two (council) seats up for election this year and three in 2019.”
Heather Mohnkern, a Venango County auditor, and her husband, Keith, are the driving force behind a website, www.savethebench.org, whose primary focus is to raise money to keep the bench in the park. The website has raised over $16,000.00 in pledges as of Thursday afternoon.
“It’s a First Amendment issue, it’s a constitutional issue,” Heather Mohnkern said after the meeting. “The fact (is) we are very active in those venues. We are very politically active. I am an elected official myself. When those types of freedoms get attacked, we usually respond.”
Keith Mohnkern said the main issue isn’t about the bench.
“It’s about a moral decay within the country as a whole,” Keith Mohnkern said. “We need to stand against that tide. We need to stand against that we can just turn around and force people to do things the entire community doesn’t want.”
Heather Mohnkern said she and her husband are representing local residents.
“We are responding on behalf of local residents who don’t know what to do or how to respond,” Heather Mohnkern said. “We want to represent them.”
The Mohnkerns said they wouldn’t have an issue with Oil City opening the park up to a bench that represents different views, which a number of legal cases and lawyers have said would make the AALC claim carry less weight.
“We would be in support of that,” Keith Mohnkern said. “Unfortunately, that’s not what they (AALC) wants. They should have that opportunity. I would allow them to put a bench in there and be represented in the city as long as it was somebody within the city and not an outside entity like this.”
“We believe all groups of people need to be represented,” Heather Mohnkern said. “We believe you have to have local teeth in the game. We have yet to know who this person is or if there is even is a person. We believe in local people stepping forward.”
Eric Reamer, the pastor of Oil City Free Christian Church, told council that it has the support of the people of Oil City if it decides to keep the bench.
“If you choose to be strong, we will stand with you,” Reamer said. “If you choose to support it, we will support you. If you back it, we will back you. It’s already started.”
Keith Mohnkern told council to not rush to make a decision.
“Drag your feet,” Keith Mohnkern said. “Give us time to raise the funds. The (AALC) deadline has passed, and no action has taken place. Don’t pursue this quickly or without hesitation.”
Heather Mohnkern said the biggest issue facing groups trying to save the bench was the fact people thought the bench being moved was happening no matter what.
“Our hurdle was everyone thought it was a done deal,” Mohnkern said. “It isn’t.”
Council took no action on the bench at the meeting.
The next council meeting is at 4:30 p.m. on January 12.
