The Avondale Estates commission is on the verge of changing the city ordinance that established the language posted on the rules markers at Lake Avondale and Willis Park. The board will give a final reading (three readings are required for any ordinance change) and is expected to approve the change during its regular meeting 6:30 Dec. 12 at Avondale Estates City Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza.
Commissioners now seem to agree that part of the language on those signs are archaic at best, and at worst unwelcome and perhaps racially charged. The signs have been around for as long as anyone can remember and were likely authored, or at least influenced, by city founder George Willis.
A large crowd showed up to last week’s discussion of the rules during a commission work session, including John Willis, 74-year-old grandson of the city’s founder. Willis has never lived in Avondale, though he plans on moving there next month.
“I don’t have a problem with the language being changed,” he said. “But I also don’t find the language off-putting. I never knew my grandfather (he died in 1932), but what I know of him I am sure he wasn’t prejudiced, and that language wasn’t intended to be racist.”
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