Looking to set the open and closed hours
In wake of continued vandalism and destruction, the Flomaton Town Council voted to move forward with a gate at the main entrance of Oaks Common Park and will set hours for all the parks in Flomaton to be open.
Councilwoman Lillian Dean sent Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., a letter outlining some projects she wanted to see done on Martin Luther King Drive and putting a gate at Oaks Common Park was one of the things on the list.
In the past, vandals had ripped the sink off the wall in one of the bathrooms. That prompted the town to put padlocks on the bathroom doors, only to be opened when events were happening. Two weeks ago the locks were ripped off the doors. Other things at the park, like concrete benches, have been destroyed.
During Monday afternoon's teleconference council meeting, Dean requested the town put up the gate at the main entrance to the park.
Councilman Jim Johnson asked if the gate is put up, would people have other access to the park?
Dean said yes.
“If we have a gate there and an opening and closing time, then the officers can charge them,” Dean said. “There's too much loitering and destruction of property.”
Police Chief Chance Thompson said setting opening and closing times at the park would be a big help.
“We have to prove they knew they weren't supposed to be there,” Thompson said.
He noted that Hurricane Park has hours posted on when the park is open and when it's closed. Currently the hours are set from 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Hurricane Park.
“I recommend the open and closed signs so our guys can enforce it,” Thompson said.
Dean said children play at the park during the day.
“Most of this is happening when the park should be closed,” Dean said.
Town Attorney Chuck Johns said he thought the town had already passed an ordinance setting times for the town's parks, which also includes Abernathy Park. He noted the times for Hurricane Park will be different do to night-time ball games.
It was discussed setting the times for Oaks Common and Abernathy from daylight to dark.
Mayor Bondurant asked members of the council to give him their recommendation and he will try to have an ordinance ready to be approved at the next meeting.
