Read the controversial resolution to relocate two Confederate monuments from Lexington

The 15-member Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council unanimously voted Thursday to approve a resolution to relocate Confederate statues from the city's courthouse lawn.

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray now has 30 days to find a new location for the monuments. His proposal then has to be approved by the Kentucky Military Heritage Commission, which is scheduled to meet again in November.

​​​​​​Related:Vote on removing Confederate statues in Lexington could come Thursday night

Here is the full text of the resolution, which was provided to the Courier-Journal:

A RESOLUTION OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR RELOCATION OF THE JOHN HUNT MORGAN AND JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE STATUES, LOCATED AT 215 AND 251 WEST MAIN STREET, RESPECTIVELY, IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, TO AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION AND REQUESTING THAT THE MAYOR PRESENT A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL CONCERNING THE APPROPRIATE LOCATION WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF THE PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION.

WHEREAS, the Historic Fayette County Courthouse and the courthouse plaza have served as the center point and most notable public forum of the city of Lexington; and,

WHEREAS, the Fayette County Courthouse is presently undergoing significant repair and renovation and is intended to serve as the Visitors Center to Lexington; and,

WHEREAS, all visitors and citizens of Lexington should feel safe, secure, welcome and comfortable in this central locus of celebration and welcome; and,

WHEREAS, Lexington has examined the location of the statues in question and whether to find a more appropriate location to provide context for the men and history associated with the monuments; and

WHEREAS, the Urban County Arts Review Board, having hosted several public forums concerning the future of the John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge statues, and having received hundreds of letters from citizens on the matter, has recommended that the statues be relocated to a different, publicly accessible space that allows visitors to acknowledge and learn about the historical significance of the public figures depicted; and,

WHEREAS, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council has determined that it is proper and appropriate that the statues be relocated to a more appropriate place in Lexington; and

WHEREAS, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council has determined that it can and will locate a site for the statues that will be more appropriate than the present location and one that will ensure that the statues, as well as the events and individuals they represent, will be recognized in an appropriate contextual manner.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT:

Section 1 – That the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council supports the relocation of the John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge statues, now located at 215 and 251 West Main Street respectively in Lexington, Kentucky, to an appropriate location.

Section 2 – That the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council hereby requests that the Mayor present a recommendation to the Council concerning the appropriate location within thirty (30) days of passage of this Resolution.

Section 3 – That this Resolution shall become effective on the date of its passage.

Southern Indiana Communities Reporter Justin Sayers can be reached by phone at 502-482-4252, email at jsayers@gannett.com or on Twitter at @_JustinSayers.