Liability concerns prompt new Burns mayor and commission to close, sell off skate park

Citing liability issues, the new Burns Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to close and sell off the equipment of the Burns Skate Park. New Commissioner Bill Allen asked questions about enforcing helmet and safety equipment rules at the park during a report by Parks Director Chris Ward at Monday night’s meeting and said he is concerned about the liability it creates for the town. The five-year-old skate park was built with more than $60,000 in donations and $20,000 in donated labor. It has been the subject of concerns for years and a former parks director briefly padlocked the park two years ago. Ward told the commission that without a parks staff there is nobody to police the skate park and make sure the rules are being followed. Commissioner Chris Holland, one of the leaders in obtaining the donations to build the park, said the town is protected through its insurance and by posting signs requiring safety equipment at the park. But new Mayor Landon Mathis compared operating the park without supervision to allowing children to play football without a helmet and asked if the town plans to “keep doing what we’ve been doing and expect a different result.” Allen said he has heard from citizens who want a swingset and playground equipment for children and said the skate park would be a good location. Allen made a motion to sell off the skate park equipment and “lose the liability,” which passed 4-1 with only Holland voting in opposition. The commission did not discuss how it will sell the equipment. The city of Dickson reportedly has inquired about purchasing the equipment.