Published: May 08, 2008 09:50 am         

With new skate park in, skating through town out

By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com

With the skate park in West City Park now open and well used, the Mineral Wells City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday evening to crack down on skateboarding and skating in the downtown district.

The ordinance approved states that “skateboard riding, scooter riding, skating and roller blading is prohibited on all sidewalks, streets, drainage ways, drainage channels and drainage outfalls located within the boundaries of the Central Business District …” The ordinance also prohibits those activities on city-owned tennis courts, tennis facilities and basketball courts, including those in city parks.

Private property is also prohibited, according to the ordinance, if the property owner posts a sign that bears a notice citing the ordinance.

Mineral Wells City Manager Lance Howerton told the council that the ordinance is a composite of ordinances adopted by a number of similar Texas communities.

“We feel it would accomplish what we seek here,” he said. He explained that the ordinance would “effectively address” the issue of skateboarding in the downtown area. Howerton pointed out that since the skate park was completed, skateboarding in that area “has significantly declined.”

In response to a question posed by Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Allen, Howerton said that those found in violation of the ordinance “would be warned first. Our intention is not to cite … but to restrict that type of activity.” He noted that with repeat offenders, citations are a possible option to consider.

“This project’s been very telling of how the city and community can work together,” Allen commented.

Another item before the city council that received the thumbs up was an ordinance closing streets in the downtown area for the Crazy Water Festival in October. Mayor Clarence Holliman emphasized to the council and the audience that there wasn’t any opposition vocalized at last month’s public hearing on the subject. The ordinance passed unanimously.

The council also approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Hurst for a slurry seal contract with Viking Construction Company that would allow the City of Mineral Wells access to better pricing without a commitment of expenditures.

Howerton explained that the slurry seal “would obviously improve the lifespan of the city streets. [With the contract] the pricing has been very advantageous in the past. It’s really a time saver and also much more favorable pricing.”

As Tuesday was Holliman’s last council meeting as mayor, he told the council, “I have been honored and it’s been a privilege for me to serve the City of Mineral Wells.” Holliman joined the city council in 1988.

The city council also:

• Approved new appointments of four individuals to the newly expanded Boyce Ditto Public Library Advisory Board.

• Awarded a bid of $1,038,789.50 to Jay Mills Contracting Inc. for the city’s 2008 Street Improvement Program.