11/13/09
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15 comments
No smoking in Morgan parks
Commission poised to pass resolution for ban, but has no plans to prohibit smokeless tobacco
Blowing smoke and flipping cigarette butts in Morgan County parks will end soon. The County Commission plans to adopt a resolution in two weeks to ban smoking at its four parks. Hartselle’s council discussed such a prohibition but never followed through. Decatur prohibits smoking at playgrounds and outdoor seating areas. It banned smoking in all public buildings and businesses in August 2007. The commission held a special work session Thursday to discuss coordinators for parks and ended up with a consensus to do away with smoking at the public facilities. District 1 Commissioner Jeff Clark said he already forbids smoking inside North Park in his district. “I have a sign up that prohibits smoking once they enter the inside of the fence at the park and I have a designated area for them to smoke,” Clark said. District 2 Commissioner Ken Livingston said people have complained about tobacco chewing and snuff dipping. “I’ve had people complain about the smoking, but then I’ve had people talk about ‘nasty’ spitting of tobacco,” Livingston said. Clark said he’s never had a complaint about anything other than smoking. District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher and District 4 Commissioner Greg Abercrombie agreed with the others that chewing tobacco and snuff should not bebanned inside the parks. Chairman John Glasscock said he would get the county attorney to draft a no-smoking resolution for all parks. The resolution would include designating smoking areas. In addition to the smoking ban, Stisher brought up an issue about park coordinators. Parks and Recreation Director Bruce Lackey suggested that because Stisher’s coordinator has resigned, each commissioner might consider making part-time park employees full-time coordinators. The move would place park maintenance under Lackey rather than commissioners. In doing so, the county would have to hire a maintenance director to work under Lackey. Other commissioners like the current setup for their respective parks. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Clark. Ultimately, they agreed for Lackey to meet with the human resources director to re-write the job description for a park coordinator, which will include extra duties in the county shop when needed. The part-time employee at South Park would have to apply for the coordinator job because it has to be advertised in accordance with county policy. The commission plans to vote on a resolution to change the job description at its Nov. 24 meeting. Lackey will be in charge of preparing schedules for coordinators. In addition, the commission plans to make changes in paying game officials for the parks. Currently, commissioners said communities use the parks for baseball and softball games, but do not pay officiating costs. Lackey presented a list to the commission which states that the county will no longer reimburse communities for officiating costs. The list also states that rental fees will be $124 per field with lights costing $25 per hour. Commissioners told Lackey to tweak the list and have it ready for a vote at the next meeting.
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HOW DARE THEY!! THEY'RE COMMUNISTS!!
you let them get away with the first, now it will only get worse, same thing is going to happen with the obillery health care, ink wont be dry untill they add new laws to it.
COMMENT BY LYNNE: So, smoke that wafts into the air is unacceptable, but spitting everywhere is. The idiocy of our local government never ceases to amaze me. I don't agree with the no smoking in any business ban, but I can in some ways see that. But OUTSIDE?!?
When are they going to make these industries cap the pollutants they pour into our air every day? Every notice how the air smells like cat food on overcaste days? Yeah, because they pump more out the days you can't see it being emitted.
COMMENT BY DAN ON COMMENT BY LYNN: Bless your heart, Lynn. Ask a 6th grade science student why you smell Meow Mix (money) on overcast, high humidity, days. Bless your ever lovin' heart. Take a pill.
Thank God I can still run with scissors, for now anyways.
Charlie Tucker
Das Gestapo
Must all work for our Islamic Communist President
Dan, bless your ever lovin' heart. Are you really that stupid? Do you really think that the Decatur industries are not pumping nasty, toxic waste into our air? Try living anywhere near International Paper. Read yesterday's article concerning the fact that Decatur is already borderline in failing ADEM's requirements for fresh air. The fact that you can actually smell anything coming from these plants should tell YOU that they are emitting things that really shouldn't be there. Try stepping foot onto BP's site and smelling the sickening sweet stench of the carcinogenics being emitted. Please quit implying anyone is stupid when you are the one needing education.
Wanda: Get a grip on reality. The president is neither Muslim nor communist. Nor did he have anything to do with the smoking resolution being considered by our fine Republican commissioners.
federal judge david carter is going to force big o to produce his proof of birth. santa anna calif. we will see what we will see. he did not buy the prez sharks demand to throw out the case.......
yes, we shall see. LOL
Yea..... Don't have to smell the smoke at the park.........You'll all be better off for it.
YALL ARE WORRIED ABOUT SMOKING READ THE REST OF THE COLUMN THE COUNTY DOESNT WANT TO PAY FOR UMPIRES BECAUSE THERE BROKE BUT WILL FORK OUT 50,000 FOR A SENIOR BUILDING THAT IS NOT IN THEIR DISTRICT. GOOD JOB DON YOUR LAUGHABLE.
Yeah, like Judy said, you guys need to read the rest of the article because that is the most important issue coming about about county parks. I umpire, coach, and a parent of a child he plays baseball at a county park. If they stop paying the officials and start forcing small communities like Danville and Falkville to pay the umpires, plus the field fees and lights, those small communities can't do that without raising the registration fees to such a ridiculous amount that many kids will not be able to play. They already have to pay for their own uniforms because the leagues are so tight on money, now they want the leagues to pay for everything?
West Park has been in shambles for years and all we have had is broken promises and lies about getting it fixed up. Where is all they tax money the county gets to fix these parks? Where does the money go that the county gets from the concessions when the communities play at the county parks?
you need to offer bigger kickbacks, that will open up lots of doors.