LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) — Caldwell County Commissioners announced on Tuesday they will develop a committee after focused discussions on the removal of a Confederate monument near the county courthouse.

They were expected to decide on the fate of the monument at Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting, but remained split.

Several citizens spoke up about the debate during public comment.

Some say placing the monument inside a museum is a compromise for those who want to keep the statue for historical reasons. (KXAN/Tahera Rahman)

“They’re talking about stuff that happened in 1900 back when the monument was erected. Well, none of us was around back then,” said Floyd Wilhelm, Jr., who opposes moving the monument.

“The thing is, we know now. We know now what it was about,” said another resident.

Some oppose any change to the statue.

“I think the monument should stay exactly where it’s at because it is part of history,” Byron Smith said.

“How many other historical markers do you see of other ethnicities– Latino contributions to the wars and to Texas liberation? Black liberation here on this courtyard? You don’t,” Sterling Riles told KXAN News.

Some say the hurtful reminder of slavery and racism needs to go — either to a cemetery or museum.

Others say: Leave history alone.

“How far back do you go to change history– to destroy history?” Smith said.

“The truth is, we want to know more about history, we want to know our accurate history,” said Sara Barr.

One Caldwell County Commissioner favored putting the fate of the Confederate statue to a public vote. (KXAN/Tahera Rahman)

Commissioners remained split on a decision, instead opting to create a committee that will include one commissioner, the county judge, historical commission members and other appointees from each side of the discussion.

“I think taking it to a committee just prolongs the decision,” said Sonja Villalobos, a city council member in Martindale.

She and others worry the delay may make tensions worse.

“Just continues to allow this ember to smolder and hopefully it doesn’t burst into a flame while they’re trying to find out which way they want to go with it,” Riles says.

Judge Hoppy Haden says statue committee members will be approved at the July 14 meeting and then the commission will ask the committee to return a recommendation by July 28.

A several week-long debate now continues for weeks more.

“Hopefully we can get to a positive outcome that is good for both sides,” says Riles.

The monument has been the focus of at least one recent protest in Caldwell County when a group of Lockhart residents gathered at the courthouse to protest on June 13.