Broken Arrow not backing down on water tower sign

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Take a ride down the Broken Arrow Expressway near Albany, and you'll see it.

A city-owned water tower with a church-owned name.

It was part of a deal reached between the First Baptist Church Broken Arrow, and the City of Broken Arrow.

The church dedicated the land to the city, in return, the city painted the church's name.

For years, the deal seemed to be working out fine.

Not anymore. After a citizen complaint about the sign, Andrew Seidel with the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the city, asking them to remove the sign.

"At some point, that name is going to have to come off the water tower," said Seidel.

Now the city is facing a lawsuit from both the foundation and the citizen who complained.

"The water tower is in fact, government owned, and on government land. And as such, it can't be advertising for any religion," said Seidel.

Seidel said the sign is a clear violation of the First Amendment.

"The supreme court has spoken very clearly on this, and it has said the government can't promote one religion or church over another, or religion over non religion," said Seidel.

During an executive session Monday night, city councilors voted not to take any action, and take their chances with a lawsuit. City officials said the original deal was to keep the church's name on the water tower for the use of the land, and they don't want to go back on that deal.