SUMMERDALE — The Summerdale Town Council Workshop became heated Tuesday night when resident Ray Harris insisted that the Council consider flying a Confederate flag beneath the U.S. and state flags in front of Town Hall.

Harris had originally made the request during the Council’s March workshop. At that time, it was set to be placed on the agenda the following Monday for consideration. However, that placement was not made, and the request was not considered. So Tuesday night, Harris asked the Council why it wasn’t. Summerdale Mayor David Wilson told him that in the time between the March workshop and meeting, several Council members expressed discomfort with the request.

“That’s why I came to you and told you it wouldn’t be on the agenda,” Wilson said in the workshop.

This explanation spurred a debate between Harris and Council members. In that debate, Harris went to his vehicle and brought back the flag he wished to be displayed, showing it to the Council. He explained that it was the third Confederate flag, which had a small version of the blue cross and white stars set on a red background its the top left corner, set against a white background with a red bar to its right.

“There’s a good flag and a bad flag,” he said, citing the well-known Confederate battle flag as the “bad flag.” “But this was approved right before the end of the Confederacy.”

Upon seeing the flag, Councilwoman Norma Wilson Giles was among those reiterating concern. She said that while she, too, is proud of her Southern heritage, a Confederate flag carries a stigma and she would vote against it.

“Why pick a fight?” she asked, pointing out that the flag would be visible from Alabama Highway 59, where tourists travel on their way to Gulf Shores. “The Civil War is over. My ancestors fought in it, too. I think y’all would be setting us up for a fall.”

Harris continued to argue his case, saying several times that the Confederacy had been demonized, adding that slavery was in the Constitution and asking that if Iran were to take over the United States, would the U.S. flag be able to be flown. He also repeated that this flag he wanted flown was not the “bad flag” associated with the Confederacy.

However, Giles said that after last month’s workshop, her research of the Nazi flag found that prior to the Third Reich, the swastika had been a positive symbol. But since then, it has been associated with Nazis.

“I resent that,” Harris said.

Giles did agree that the issue should be placed on the agenda so Summerdale residents could be included in the decision. But Harris said that he would make sure whoever voted against the proposal would be voted out of office in the next municipal election.

“I’m not threatening you,” he said.

The Council is set to consider the issue at its next meeting, which is set for 6 p.m. Monday at Summerdale Town Hall.