A lengthy deliberation Tuesday among 13 Minnesotans tasked with selecting a new state flag and seal at times devolved into argument and confusion among some, with one member of the State Emblems Redesign Commission calling it “a colossal waste of time” for those who submitted the designs.

Others criticized any potential incorporation of the state motto “L’etoile du Nord” or the statehood date of “1858” into a new state seal or flag as “hurtful” to many with indigenous backgrounds.

But ultimately, the State Emblems Redesign Commission — created via legislation passed this spring to retire the existing flag and symbol and pick new ones — was able to whittle it down a group of six flag designs and five state seal designs (that came out of a pool of more than 2,000 submissions) that it will now turn over to the public for feedback, before picking (and perhaps tweaking) two winners in December.