Smith County commissioners voted Tuesday to accept a donation of a Ten Commandments monument, which will be installed at the new Smith County Courthouse in downtown Tyler. This decision means the county will receive the monument as a gift, intended for prominent display outside the recently completed county facility. The action by the commissioners provides clarity on the future presence of the religious text at the governmental complex in the heart of Tyler.
The vote by the Smith County commissioners encompassed more than just the monument itself. The elected body also formally approved the acceptance of various donations designed to cover all associated costs for the project. These donations may include both direct financial contributions, specifically referred to as funds, and contributions of labor, such as skilled work or services required for the monument's proper placement and installation. The explicit acceptance of these specific types of donations ensures that the entire undertaking, from the acquisition of the monument to the physical work of its installation, will be fully supported by private sources, rather than public funds.
A central condition of the approval for the Ten Commandments monument is that the project will come at no direct financial cost to Smith County. The commissioners' decision relies on the explicit understanding that all related expenditures for the monument and its setup will be covered exclusively by private donations. This arrangement means that residents and taxpayers of Smith County will not bear the financial burden for the monument’s presence at the new downtown Tyler courthouse. This commitment to private funding underscores the nature of the project as a donated asset to the county.
In addition to the exterior monument, the commissioners also approved the acceptance of accompanying Ten Commandments plaques. These plaques are specifically designated for placement inside the new Smith County Courthouse building, complementing the outdoor installation. Similar to the outdoor monument and its installation, the interior plaques will also be funded entirely through private donations. The comprehensive nature of the donation acceptance, approved by the Smith County commissioners on Tuesday, means that the county’s involvement is limited to approving the receipt of the items and the financial or labor support necessary for their installation. This project is designed to proceed through community support, reflecting a private initiative to place the religious text on county property, ensuring that the new courthouse in downtown Tyler will feature these displays without public expense.
