Cape Girardeau City Council members discussed the fate of the Confederate monument at Ivers Square in Cape Girardeau during their meeting last night. Ultimately, the council members will decide on a study session in their next meeting.
Ward 6’s Stacy Kinder addressed the issue of the statue, suggesting that the council put the issue on the agenda of a coming meeting.
“I have contended that it seems like an odd place to have that particular monument,” she said.
She said it was a strange place for a statue alongside another monument recognizing the service of a black Union soldier.
Mayor Bob Fox said that the issue was discussed when the Ivers Square statue was placed, at which point nothing was done about the Confederate statue.
In addition to the soldier statue, Cape City Manager Scott Meyer said there is a plaque placed for the Confederate soldier with information about the monument.
The mayor said both the statues of the Confederate soldier and the black Union soldier likely would be taken down because of the renovation to the Common Pleas Courthouse. From there, he said, they could address what to do about the statues. However, Deputy City Manager Molly Mehner told the council members after the discussion that there are no plans to take both down.
Members of the public also spoke at the meeting, talking about race in Cape Girardeau. They also brought signage complaints before the council. At the beginning of the meeting, administrators with the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport came and presented on concepts for changes surrounding the location. The council’s next meeting is on July 6.