Public gets chance to speak before Burns commission deliberates skate park’s fate

Burns officials will hear from the public before again deliberating the fate of the town’s skate park tonight. Mayor Landon Mathis has scheduled a public hearing for 6 pm at Burns Town Hall to allow the public to provide input concerning the town’s five-year-old skate park that was built with donations and volunteer labor. The Board of Commissioners is then expected to revisit last month’s vote to close the park when it meets in its monthly session at 7 pm. The mayor and board voted 4-1 on Dec. 3 to close the park and sell the equipment over liability concerns. Town officials are worried about children not following rules requiring helmets and safety equipment while not being able to provide full-time supervision of the park.