Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie is asking the city council to consider bringing in a third party to manage parades “to get politics out of that small town feel.”

Gillespie made the suggestion during his comment period at last week’s city council session, noting the “negative controversy about our parades.”

Some citizens, alongside the group Clean Up Prattville, raised opposition last year to the participation of Prattville Pride in the Christmas parade, and Gillespie ultimately chose to remove Prattville Pride from the parade, citing safety concerns.

Prattville Pride quickly sued the city in federal court and obtained an injunction ensuring the group would be able to participate in the parade, as denying the group’s entry would violate its First Amendment rights.

“Prattville Pride is a

See Full Page