News

Council OKs 'shalt nots' for Flat Rock park

By Bill Moss, Published: December 22, 2014

FLAT ROCK — Flat Rock now has a firm set of rules governing use of its park. Whether they're too firm and too numerous sparked debate.

"I know the intent of this ordinance is nothing but good but when I read it it sounds like it's nothing but negative," former mayor Terry Hicks said of a 25-point ordinance governing everything from sound to skates and guns to gambling at the Park at Flat Rock. "Not because that's what the intent is but that's what rolls out of it as it flows."
Hicks cited his objections or suggestions. The council itself must grant permission for "exclusive events" and the use of alcoholic beverages.
"You may want to revaluate whether you really want the council to make that decision or do you want administrator to do that," he said.
Rule No. 19 bars fishing.
"I understand why we don't want people to fish in the pond but I'm not sure why it would be a problem if you had a 9-year-old told that had a parent with them," he said.
Councilman Albert Gooch questioned why the ordinance bans remote control airplanes.
"Why don't we want them to fly airplanes?" he asked.
"Because they can get away and land on someone's deck in the neighborhood," Mayor Bob Staton said. "Somebody considers them dangerous."
"On 55 acres?" Gooch said. He voted no.
Council members said at some point that they may decided to delegate to the administrator the special events and alcohol requests.
The current mayor told the former mayor that the council had devoted many hours discussing the rules and had hashed out the concerns the former mayor raised. It's the nature of law, added Staton, a retired lawyer, to spell out what citizens cannot do.
"Last time someone said that it was negative, I commented that most of the Ten Commandments begin with 'Thou shalt not,'" he said.