Inconsiderate skateboarders discussed at council meeting

Due to complaints from merchants and citizens at large, the Lincolnton City Council is considering the adoption of a "skateboarding ordinance."

The matter was under discussion at the regular meeting of the mayor and council held Monday, June 4.

According to Police Chief Jim Justice, "For about a year and a half, we have been receiving complaints about young people skateboarding in different areas of town. Unfortunately, a few rotten eggs are spoiling things for everyone."

It was noted that some skateboarders ride on the sidewalks in front of private businesses, actually damaging the sidewalks; they are rude to store owners; and they do not dispose of their trash properly. Merchants have also complained that customers were almost hit by skateboarders.

"We've tried to work with these young people to resolve these problems so we wouldn't have to get to this point, but nothing has worked," stated Chief Justice.

In his comments, Mayor Dwaine Biggerstaff said, "I've seen skateboarders ride down past Jericho Florist and then jump from the upper tier down the flight of steps. I've seen them do things that could result in a broken neck or leg. It is a problem."

The matter was referred to the Police Committee which will review sample ordinances as well as explore other options for dealing with the situation.

In other business, the council heard a presentation given by Richard Frommeyer, a codification consultant with the American Legal Publishing Corporation based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The consultant indicated that a recodification contract with the city would include:

.. The incorporation of new ordinances into the code book.

.. The provision of sample or model ordinances upon request.

.. A legal review of the city's existing ordinances by a staff attorney to uncover inconsistencies between sections in the code itself as well as inconsistencies between the code and state and federal law.

.. Updating the index, tables, and ordinances as needed.

.. Reformatting the pages into a new typestyle and printing 25 copies of the entire code book. Frommeyer estimated that the City of Lincolnton's code book will contain approximately 350 pages.

The city will also receive the code book on CD-ROM in WordPerfect or Microsoft Word, with the added option of obtaining the code on Folio VIEWS search and retrieval software. Moreover, the code book can be placed on the Internet after it has been converted to Folio.

The base cost for the codification service is $6,995.

In other remarks, Frommeyer said, "Codification helps form a good government. Citizens have to know what the law is. Also, with codification, you will know where you are and can move forward."

The council agreed to take the consultant's proposal under consideration.

In further business, the council: .. Was asked by Mayor Biggerstaff to remember the family of Councilman Dwain Moss, whose mother, Sara Moss, passed away earlier that day.

.. Heard the mayor report that he will be making a PowerPoint presentation on the city's streetscape project at the GMA (Georgia Municipal Association) Convention set for the last week in June in Savannah. Councilman Moss and Councilman Henry Brown are also expected to attend the annual event.

.. Heard the Water Department Report given by Superintendent Stanley Parton, who indicated that with little or no rain, water production jumped from 12.56 mg (million gallons) in April to 16.41 mg in May.

He went on to point out that the city had to exceed its withdrawal permit of 630,000 gallons per day from Clark's Hill Lake on five separate occasions.

The city has been engaged in a three-year struggle with the EPD (Environmental Protection Division) to obtain a new water withdrawal permit of two million gallons per day.

According to Superintendent Parton, "We were told that the corps (United States Army Corps of Engineers) calculates withdrawal amounts based on the daily average for the year. As it now stands, the corps is going to send a letter to the EPD apprising them of this, which will hopefully result in a temporary withdrawal permit for the city."

The EPD will not approve a regular permit until the city enters into a new agreement with the corps concerning the amount of water it can withdraw from the lake.

In other items of information, Parton reported that the city's sewer rehabilitation project is well underway. "Blair Construction is replacing pipes and manholes, and American Infrastructure will come in later and reline some of our old clay pipes with a PVC alloy."

.. Voted to annex land owned by Joey Joiner on Highway 79 into the city. In a separate motion, the group voted to re-zone the property from agricultural (county zoning) to residential (city zoning).

.. Voted to annex land owned by Stephen and Beth Dawkins on the McCormick Highway into the city. In a separate motion, the group voted to re-zone the property from agricultural (two parcels) and industrial (two parcels) to commercial.

.. Heard an update given by Mayor Biggerstaff on the renovation project at the Lincolnton Clubhouse. He indicated that among other things, new siding has been installed; the subflooring is down; and the building has been re-wired.

Once renovations are complete, the clubhouse will be able to accommodate from 60 to 75 people.

The cost of the project is being covered by grant funds and a $10,000 direct appropriation from the General Assembly.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to discuss personnel issues. Upon returning to regular session, the group voted to hire Scott Harwell as a fulltime police officer.

The next regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held Monday, July 9, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.