Burns sets public hearing for input after voting to close, sell skate park equipment

Just a month after voting to close and sell the equipment of the Burns Skate Park, the mayor has now called for a public hearing to discuss the park’s fate. Mayor Landon Mathis has scheduled a public hearing for 6 pm Monday, Jan. 7, prior to the board of commissioners’ first meeting of the new year to allow citizens to provide input on whether the town should keep or get rid of the skateboard park. At its Dec. 3 meeting, the board voted 4-1 to close and sell off the equipment because of concerns over liability over the difficulty of enforcing helmet and protective gear rules. New Commissioner Bill Allen made a motion to sell the park equipment and “lose the liability” after Parks Director Chris Ward said the town had no way of enforcing safety rules at the unstaffed park. Only Commissioner Chris Holland voted against the proposal, pointing out the town is protected under its liability insurance as long as safety rules are posted. The park was built five years ago with $60,000 in donations and $20,000 in donated labor, according to Holland. In his first meeting as mayor, Mathis equated the liability of the park to allowing children to play football without helmets in voting for closing it. The board will hold the public hearing Jan. 7 and revisit the issue at that night’s monthly session set for 7 pm in Burns Town Hall.