Public will design new county flag

If county officials get their wish, Morgan County will have a locally-designed county flag to adorn the new courthouse.

Several months ago, officials realized that the courthouse design included three flagpoles — one for the American flag, one for the state flag and space for a county flag.

Since the county doesn’t have a flag or even a seal, an idea was born to hold a flag design contest. The contest was the brainchild of Commissioner Brenda Hutchinson.

County officials are asking local people to get creative, and come up with a flag design that reflects the history and character of Morgan County.

The year of the county’s founding — 1820 — should appear prominently on the flag. Commissioner Tommy Swaim also suggested that the flag design depict the shape or outline of the county’s boundaries.

Other guidelines say the flag design can’t include any copyrighted images or phrases that are restricted in use.

Artists of all ages can submit their designs in any medium suitable for reproduction. Submissions in an 8.5 by 11-inch format are encouraged.
Designs should be sent with a form that gives the artist’s information and a description of the work. Those forms will be available at the County Commission office and on the county website as soon as they are finalized for distribution.

Submissions of designs are due to the County Commission office by June 1, to allow time to make the flag before a planned grand September opening ceremony at the courthouse.

After some discussion, the commissioners decided they would narrow entries down to three finalists and let the public select the winner by voting for their favorite.

The flag design will become the property of the county government and may be used at their discretion. The winning artist will hang their flag at the opening ceremony of the new county courthouse.