NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) -- After burying their son, a southern Indiana family took their pain to New Albany councilmembers on Monday, demanding action.

Andre "AJ" Edwards, 14, drowned in Silver Creek on Memorial Day. Since his death, there have been renewed calls for the creek's dam to be removed over safety concerns.

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14-year-old Andre Edwards Jr. (AJ) drowned in Silver Creek in New Albany, Indiana on Memorial Day after falling off the dam.

It's been an ongoing legal battle with the city fighting against the removal of the dam, filing a lawsuit back in November to prevent it from happening.

But the teen's family is calling on the city to take action now to prevent another tragedy.

"It is not fair," Edwards' mother, Amanda Malott, said. "It is not fair."

Malott buried her son on Monday, and blames the city for allowing the Silver Creek dam to exist.

"Before we started this meeting tonight, we all stood and said the Pledge of Allegiance, for truth and justice. The truth is the dam is dangerous," she told councilmembers Monday evening.

Edwards was walking along the top of the dam on Memorial Day when he fell into the creek. The current created by the dam took him under in the blink of an eye, trapping him.

The dangers of the Silver Creek dam are well known in the area — Malott said previously she tried to warn her son not to go into the water when he said he was going to the creek.

Last week, Josh Turner, a former city councilman for the area surrounding Silver Creek, told WDRB he and others believe the area is dangerous and should be opened up anyway for a new park currently being developed in the area. 

River Heritage Conservancy is the nonprofit organization leading the project behind Origin Park. The group is working on a 430-acre riverfront park in Clarksville, which includes bike and walking paths, and more water access.

The plans called for the dam to be removed, but the city filed a lawsuit back in November to prevent it from happening, keeping the dam in place for now.

"I can tell you there is a pending lawsuit between Origin Park and entity that petition to remove the dam and the city, I will let the administration speak to those," City Council President Adam Dickey said Monday when asked about the lawsuit.

Mayor Jeff Gahan sent a statement of condolence that was read into the record during Monday's meeting. 

Meanwhile, Turner said the city and Gahan could put an end to the dam just by getting out of the way.

"The city just needs to get out of the way of the dam, the city, they don't have to do anything," Turner said Monday.

Action is just what Judy Clark, Edwards' grandmother, wants from the city.

"You don't know what I have been through. You have no clue. It is the hardest thing any woman, grandmother, grandfather, daughter goes through and I don't wish that on any of you," Clark said.

Many of the current city council members offered condolences to the family, who is appreciative. But, as Clark said during the meeting, they want action.

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