Muncie ‘In God We Trust’ decal ordinance fails as council members cite ‘anonymous’ influence

A proposal by the Muncie City Council president to add “In God We Trust” to police and fire vehicles was voted down Monday night.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, besides opinions on religion, the council and public were skeptical about who was behind the push.

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00;00;00;06 - 00;00;21;22 Stephanie Wiechmann The ordinance would have required adding an “In God we trust” decal to all police and fire vehicles. In September, it had been approved on first reading on a party line vote by Republicans. Last month, when asked, Council President Jeff Green did not say who proposed the decals. This month, Mayor Dan Ridenour said the city won't have to pay the approximately $ 1,200 it would cost for the decals. 00;00;21;28 - 00;00;37;07 Dan Ridenour I would be totally happy to pay for that out of EDIT. However, I received a phone call this afternoon and there are some anonymous givers, I'm not even sure who they are, who are willing to pay for it, so it won't have to cost the city anything. 00;00;37;10 - 00;00;40;09 Stephanie Wiechmann Council member Sara Gullion questioned that phone call. 00;00;40;11 - 00;01;02;10 Sara Gullion This particular ordinance was brought to President Green by a group of anonymous people. Okay. Now the mayor is saying that a group of anonymous people would pay for this. There's absolutely no transparency in this. Although I think we all have some idea where it originally came from. 00;01;02;13 - 00;01;09;08 Stephanie Wiechmann With two absent Republican council members, the ordinance was voted down 4 to 3. I'm Stephanie Wiechmann in Muncie.

The ordinance would have required adding an “In God We Trust” decal to all police and fire vehicles.  In September, it had been approved on first reading on a party-line vote by Republicans.

Last month, when asked, council president Jeff Green did not say who proposed the decals.  This month, Mayor Dan Ridenour said the city won’t have to pay the approximately $1,200 it would cost for the decals.

“I would be totally happy to pay for that out of EDIT.  However, I received a phone call this afternoon, and there are some anonymous givers – I’m not even sure who they are – who are willing to pay for it, so it won’t have to cost the city anything.”

Council member Sara Gullion questioned that phone call.

“This particular ordinance was brought to President Green by a group of anonymous people.  Okay.  Now, the mayor is saying a group of anonymous people would pay for this,” she said. “There’s absolutely no transparency in this, although, I think we all have some idea where it originally came from,” she continued, to loud audience applause.

Read More: Muncie City Council president changes back public comment rules after community pushback

Several council members also questioned the cost quoted for the decals, saying it was a piece of paper with “200 cars” scribbled on the side.  Nora Powell said it had originally been sent to the city on September 23, but council members received it the night of the meeting on October 5.

During public comments, arguments for and against were largely the same as the previous month.  They centered on whether or not the city could or should promote religion and on the cost of the decals.  Before Ridenour said other donors would pay for the decals, a Muncie resident asked how many potholes the city could fill for the same price.

With Republican council members Ro Selvey and Brandon Garrett absent from Monday night’s meeting, the ordinance was voted down 4-3.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.