Split Galesville council approves adding Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance will be added to the agenda of Galesville city council meetings after a split vote last week.

Councilor Tory-Kale Schulz proposed adding the pledge to the council’s order of business each month.

Council members Tom Thatcher and Jean Wallner opposed adding the pledge, but the motion passed 4-2.

Thatcher said “quite a few people” think adding the pledge and a moment of silence would alienate others if they don’t participate. He said he doesn’t understand the purpose of adding the pledge.

“It’s just a little concerning that these controversial topics were put on the agenda in my opinion,” Thatcher said.

Schulz pointed to students reciting the pledge in schools across the U.S.

“For the same reason why we have children do it for 77 years as of December 28,” Schulz said. “This country has been saying the Pledge of Allegiance all over this country.”

Attorney Dan Arndt said the pledge is more common at chamber of commerce meetings than municipality meetings, and the council discussed school boards wavering on the pledge.

Schulz also proposed adding a moment of silence to meetings, but that motion failed for lack of a second on Thursday.

The moment of silence has been a focus of some Supreme Court cases and could cost the city money if future council members want to eliminate the agenda additions, Thatcher said.

Wallner opposed the meeting additions and didn’t understand the motivation for adding the pledge because she believes the council handles “pretty ordinary, mundane things”.

February’s meeting will be the first to include the pledge.