Web posted
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Commission hears from boarders
By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
About 25 teenagers made their case for a new skate boarding park in Arkansas City during the City Commission meeting Tuesday.
Several spoke about how the current facility, near Paris Park, is outdated and becoming unsafe.
Commissioners told the teens they might have to do some fund raising of their own, but said they would do what they could to help.
Mayor Dotty Smith said she had talked with the skate boarders several times, and had encouraged them to come to a meeting and talk to the commission.
"This also teaches kids about how the system works and how to take responsibility," she said.
Currently, skate boarders get in trouble for skating on the sidewalks downtown and in parking lots around town, both of which are illegal.
Derrick Fulton said one reason they skate on the sidewalks is that the current park is not adequate.
The facility should be made of concrete. This one contains metal, which is coming loose and causing injuries at times, several of the teens said. They also said the current park gets too much dust and small rocks get on the course, which cause accidents.
Smith suggested they form a skate boarding association or club, and said the city would help as much as it could.
"You still must not skate on the sidewalks," she said.
Commissioner Scott Margolius told the teens that he thought if the community saw them showing initiative by raising funds, it would support their efforts.
Other topics addressed at the meeting were the following:
* Set a pubic hearing date of Feb. 19 to consider de-annexing property on the north side of town that was part of the big box proposal.
* Tabled the sale of shares of CoVista Medical Center, LLC to SCKRMC , releasing Cardiovascular Hospitals of America, LLC from Covista Medical Center, LLC Agreements. The matter was put off due to final copies of agreements not being received.
* Approved the sale of property on South Summit for $2,000. The lot is to become a meat market.
* Approved a three-year contract with the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce to operate a convention and visitors bureau. The contract is for $70,000 per year, and authorizing adding $21,000 from surplus funds. The CVB gets its money from bed taxes on hotels in the city.
* Approved an ordinance setting guidelines for city boards, will limit terms and give boards other guidelines.
* Approved the following mayor's appointments to various boards:
-- Accessibility Advisory Board: David Herlocker and James Frye;
-- Cherokee Strip Museum board: Al Kimsey, Tom Bay and Danny Thompson;
-- Beautification Board: Amy Grose;
-- Tree Advisory Board: Joyce Jordan;
-- Convention and Tourism Board: Marshall Brentlinger;
-- Area Council on Aging board: Sue Gregg;
-- Residential Rehabilitation Board: Lynne Jordan, Russell McAlister; Coleen Estep.
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