Carla Wilson
Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville City Council voted Tuesday to postpone naming 124 West Main Street and its adjacent outdoor venue after concerns were raised over the city’s previous decision to honor Esther Pratt, wife of city founder Daniel Pratt.
The decision came during the council’s first meeting since newly elected members were sworn in. Both resolutions, one to name the property “Esther’s” and another to name the outdoor venue “The Lyric at Esther’s” failed to pass.
The issue dates back to early October, when the City of Prattville announced that the former Hancock Whitney Bank building would be named “Esther’s,” with the adjacent outdoor venue designated as “The Lyric at Esther’s.” The announcement sparked controversy at the Oct. 7 council meeting, where several residents expressed concerns about Esther Pratt’s history and the naming process.
Councilman Wade Newman said the council needed to pause and establish a formal process before approving any naming resolutions.
“We need to take a pause on this and establish some framework,” Newman said. “We have put the cart before the horse to some degree. If we approve it at this point, we have now set a precedent, which we can’t do, because any process we do after that will show that we don’t have to use the processes that are in place.”
During his mayor’s report, Mayor Gillespie addressed the council and took responsibility for the confusion surrounding the naming decision.
“Counselors, I want to apologize if I have created a situation for us all,” Gillespie said. “In my opinion, there is no clear process that outlines the naming of a city building or facilities. I am willing to work with the council to establish a clear and consistent process moving forward. That said, I do want to discuss the recent naming of Esther’s and The Lyric. There was never any intent to bypass procedure nor exclude any input. I recognize that the lack of an established process has created some confusion. I take full responsibility for that.”
Many residents who attended the meeting urged the council to reconsider the name “The Lyric,” noting that the original Lyric venue was a segregated facility.
Council members agreed to move forward with developing a formal policy governing how city-owned properties and facilities are named in the future.
