MOUNT JULIET, Tenn. -- This time of year, nativity scenes can be seen frequently in neighborhoods and church grounds. However, one middle Tennessee city is proudly displaying its religious decorations in front of City Hall.

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The nativity scene has been a long-standing tradition in Mount Juliet, but this year the timing of Christmas with another religious controversy in Wilson County raised questions about the display.

"I didn't want to bow to the political correctness pressures and the ACLU," said Mount Juliet Vice Mayor Ed Hagerty.

He said this year there was some hesitation on the part of some city officials as to whether or not their nativity scene should go up on city property as it has in the past. The hesitation came after a federal lawsuit surrounding a Wilson County School and a prayer group.

Because of this, only one set of decorations went up at first.

"We certainly had complaints when the nativity was not part of the display," said Hagerty.

Some in Mount Juliet felt that Christmas with the nativity scene was part of celebrating the holiday.

A couple weeks ago Hagerty said either put the nativity up in 48 hours or a special meeting would be called. That’s when the nativity scene was put up.

Because there are non-religious decorations on the City Hall lawn, city officials said putting the nativity scene up is legal because there is a balance.

"A nativity scene, as long as it's part of Christmas display that includes secular and non-secular items, is completely legal," said Hagerty.

In some cities in the U.S., this type of display has come with a lawsuit, but no residents or organizations in Mount Juliet have expressed anger over the nativity scene.

Channel 4 spoke with a representative of the ACLU for middle Tennessee on Monday. She said while the city may not be breaking any laws by having the display, she points out that Wilson County is a diverse area and maybe they should incorporate other religious decorations. The city said they would be open to that if residents asked for it.