Board ban not on Athens agenda for now

ATHENS, Tenn. — Stronger rules for skateboarders weren’t on the Athens City Council’s agenda Tuesday night.

Responding to complaints about skateboarders using public and private property downtown as a skate park, Councilman Dick Pelley said he hoped to bring up a board ban at the council meeting.

But he said the other four council members are wary of passing an ordinance keeping skateboards off public property.

The council already has passed an ordinance banning borders on private property posted with “No Skateboarding” signs.

Police Chief Chuck Ziegler said no downtown property owner has applied so far for a sign, but he said complaints about skateboarders continue.

Private property owners as well as officials with churches, the Senior Citizen Center and the Arts Council all have expressed concerned about possible damage.

Under the current regulations, skateboarders are allowed to use downtown streets and sidewalks.

They often can be seen skating across streets where cars are traveling.

“Do we have to wait until someone is injured?” Mr. Pelley said. “An 80-year-old woman told me she doesn’t want to be hit.” He said he’s concerned about boarders, motorists and pedestrians.

Councilman Hal Buttram said the city police have more important work than citing skateboarders. Other council members agreed that they want to be cautious about passing an ordinance to ban boarding.

The city opened a skateboard park last fall that officials said is heavily used. But what Mr. Pelley and others call the “downtown group,” which he said includes a 31-year-old man, continues to prefer the streets.

Chief Ziegler said many other cities have banned boarders from downtown, and an ordinance could be enforced. He said the police department has received many damage reports that property owners claim were caused by skateboarders.

Most council members said they want to see if the property owners put up signs before the city takes additional action.

“I just don’t want to put an ordinance into effect unless we have too,” Vice Mayor Bo Perkinson said.