The Haywood County Board of Commissioners is considering a permanent policy on the posting and placement of flags, monuments, memorials, signs, placards and other displays on county property.

The deliberations have sparked a storm of public comment, much of which is being driven by organizations outside the county boundaries. The issue was originally slated to be discussed at the 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17, board meeting, but now has been postponed until January 2013.

There are a number of Confederate flags which were approved during the Civil War period, and the county draft policy stipulates the "Stars and Bars" flag is the one that is to be displayed. Confederate groups, including the N.C. Sons of Confederate Veterans, the WNC Flaggers and the Southern Legal Resource Center want the Confederate ...