The County Commission on Wednesday approved $100,000 to go toward the creation of the Ed Johnson Memorial by the Walnut Street Bridge.
The memorial group said that puts reaching the fundraising goal at 90 percent.
Commissioners Sabrena Smedley, Chester Bankston, Chip Baker, Katherlyn Geter, Randy Fairbanks and David Sharpe were in favor. Commissioners Tim Boyd and Greg Martin voted no. Warren Mackey was absent.
Commissioner Boyd had a motion that he said would fully fund the memorial. It was to approve the $100,000 from the county as well as another $100,000 that would be taken from the hotel motel tax that goes to the Visitors Bureau. He said $25,000 per month would be deducted from the Visitors Bureau over four months.
Commissioner Boyd said the funds should come not from the county general fund, but the hotel motel tax.
Only Commissioners Boyd and Sharpe voted for that motion.
The memorial is for Ed Johnson, who was lynched on the Walnut Street Bridge in 1906. He always maintained he was "an innocent man." The case in his behalf was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.