CLINTON - The lowering of flags in front of public buildings in Clinton has sparked a disagreement between the mayor and a local physician.

Mayor Ed Wollet ordered flags lowered to half-staff Nov. 5 after the sudden death of Fire Chief Jeff Pearl. The flags were scheduled to be raised Tuesday after city workers returned from the Veteran's Day weekend.

But the doctor and several others raised most of the flags Saturday. Wollet decided to restore the city hall flag to full staff in an informal ceremony with veterans Monday.

Dr. Sid Rohrscheib questioned the flag protocol in a phone call to Wollet on Friday. The surgeon said the power to order flags lowered rests with the U.S. president and state governors.

The mayor "had no authority to lower the flags," said Rohrscheib.

The doctor said he respected the fire chief but the practice of lowering flags for a local resident sets an inappropriate precedent. The initial plan to have the flags remain lowered through Veterans Day was not respectful of soldiers, said Rohrscheib.

Flags also were lowered last week at Clinton schools and the DeWitt County Building. Pearl served as a member of the DeWitt County Board. Wollet said he did not tell school or county officials to lower their flags.

Rohrscheib confirmed Monday that he and several veterans raised the flags at schools and public buildings to full staff on Saturday. He said the action was taken "because it was proper."

The rules for lowering the flag are defined in the U.S. Flag Code. The president or a governor may issue the directive after the death of a public official.

Wollet cited a section of the federal rules that provides for flag lowering "in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with the law." He said City Attorney Steve Myers approved of the order.

"We planned to raise the flags on Tuesday but someone took it upon themselves to raise the flags around town. When I saw that one remained lowered at city hall, I decided that the flag would be raised at the 11th hour Monday to commemorate Veterans Day. This also signifies the official end of the city's period of mourning for Fire Chief Jeff Pearl," said Wollet.

The mayor said the city council will discuss the flag issue, including local protocol for lowering the flag.