Editor's note: On Aug. 14, the La Crosse Common Council again decided to appeal a federal judge's ruling that the city's Ten Commandments monument must be removed from a city park. The Associated Press reported that the council voted 15-2 to override Mayor John Medinger's Aug. 13 veto of its decision to appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

LA CROSSE, Wis. — The City Council voted overwhelmingly last night to appeal a federal court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from a public park.

Rejecting the advice of Mayor John Medinger, the council voted 15-2 to pursue the appeal in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb of Madison issued an order on July 14 that the city remove the monument, which was installed in Cameron Park by the Eagles Club in 1965.

Crabb ruled in favor of the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The group's lawsuit, filed in 2001, contended the monument in the park violated the First Amendment requirement of separation of church and state.

After the lawsuit was filed, the city erected a fence around the monument, sold the enclosed parcel to the Eagles Club and passed a resolution stating its intent to use all means available to keep the monument where it is.

Medinger, who opposed appealing the court decision and favored moving the monument, said he might veto the council action, although advocates of the appeal had more than the 12 votes needed to override a veto.

The mayor said he would announce his decision on a possible veto today.