Skateboard ordinance stalls again

Florence - City council members will have to wait until later this month to address an old ordinance that has raised concerns about what kinds of games and wheel-based toys can be used on Florence streets.

Two council members - Angie Pickens and Scott Carrier - declined to allow the council to give immediate consideration to a proposed amendment to the ordinance, which has been on the books since the early 1950s. As a result, the amendment cannot be voted on until the Dec. 18 council meeting.

The ordinance restricts the use of several wheel-based toys such as tricycles, roller skates and scooters.

Some city leaders have been trying to expand the ordinance to include skateboards, which have created problems in several areas, especially downtown.

Mayor Bobby Irons offered an amendment Tuesday night that would expand the ban to include skateboarding, which would be prohibited on city streets, sidewalks next to businesses, in the downtown parking lot and at the Veterans Memorial in Veterans Park.

"Yes, they have caused damage downtown," said Hester Cope, director of the Florence Main Street Program, in reference to skateboarders. For example, Carrara glass on several business facades downtown has been broken, with skateboarders being blamed.

This isn't the first time skateboarding has been an issue for downtown. In the late 1990s, some skateboarders were accused of waxing the steps to the U.S. Post Office and flattening wooden benches to create surfaces for their boards.

The mayor said the ban is meant to protect residents and businesses.

"It simply is not safe to have people playing ball or riding vehicles on sidewalks abutting commercial establishments where there is a large volume of foot traffic," Irons said.

He told council that language in the proposed amendment does not affect the use of motorized wheelchairs or bicycles and "did not prohibit playing or riding vehicles on sidewalks abutting residential property."

"These rules are not overly restrictive and are necessary to protect our citizens, especially our children," Irons said.

Some residents, along with Carrier and Pickens, disagree.

"It says that if my child is playing in Indian Springs - then he is in violation of the law," said Jeff Chandler, who lives in the Indian Springs neighborhood. "That's not right. Don't tell me that I'm in violation of (the law by) pitching ball in my cul-de-sac."

Both Carrier and Pickens raised several concerns about the proposed amendment, including the definition of "scooter," saying it could mean a child's toy or a motorized wheelchair.

"The ordinance should just say it should be unlawful for skateboards on sidewalks and streets of the historical district and downtown - plain and simple," Pickens said.

Florence resident John Crowder said the proposed amendment would still allow skateboarders to use sidewalks adjacent to government buildings, including the courthouse.

Councilman Sam Pendleton suggested that the mayor and police meet with skateboarders to ask for cooperation.

"I don't think we should have them running from the police," he said.

In other business, the council approved a contract with Calenco LLC for $108,248 to renovate the restrooms and building at the recreation complex at Cox Creek Parkway and Chisholm Road.

The money will come from budgeted funds, city officials said.

n approved a contract with Robert W. Whitten Architect for $3,800 for renovations to the second floor of the First Southern building.

n approved the use of $25,000 to meet the matching responsibility for a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal/ state economic redevelopment agency. Money will be used for redevelopment projects in west Florence.

n approved a $25,900 land purchase in east Florence for the water department to build a lift station.

n authorized rezoning of the northeast corner of Helton Drive and Bradshaw Drive from residential to residential/business.

n declared Dec. 31, 2007, a holiday for the city.

TimesDaily Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com