Park to Remain Open
Constitution-Tribune, Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The playground at Shaffer Park will remain open through winter. Following several months of discussions and after hearing comments from residents near the park, Chillicothe’s City Council members voted 2-3 Monday night on an ordinance which would have closed the park from late fall through most of winter.

The city’s park and recreation advisory board had recommended closing the park between Nov. 1 and the start of Daylight Saving Time (the second Sunday in March) on a trial basis in an effort to reduce costly vandalism which has occurred at the park. Several residents in the neighborhood who use the park or have children or grandchildren who use the park expressed concerns to council members Monday night about not having an adequate playground nearby for children to use.

Councilman-at-Large Darrel Rinehart Jr. made the motion to accept the ordinance temporarily closing the park and that motion was seconded by Fourth Ward Councilman Paul Howard. When voted upon, Rinehart and Howard voted in favor of the closure, while First Ward Councilman Sid Cornell, Second Ward Councilman Maurice Zion, and Third Ward Councilman Tom Douglas voted against the closure.

Assistant Parks Superintendent Josh Norris told the council that locking up the park would not eliminate vandalism, but it could help deter vandals from causing damage to the park. All parks in the city have received vandalism but none to the extend that Shaffer Park has received, he said.
Several months ago the city implemented a plan to close the park at night. Since that time, Norris said that vandalism has dropped drastically; he speculates, though, that the decline from summer’s vandalism is more due to the fact that school has started.

Maria Reagan, who lives in the area, said that her daughter enjoys the park and said having the park closed just at night has been a favorable solution and asked that the council not close the park on a full-time basis during winter. "I don't think the kids who enjoy the park should be penalized because of the kids who are being bad," she said.

The playground inside the fenced area at Shaffer Park was donated to the city. another portion of Shaffer Park, which would not have been affected by the park's closure, has only a few pieces of playground equipment and is inadequate, Reagan said. Assistant Parks Superintendent Josh Norris said that the playground was slated to receive mulch, but not additional play equipment in the immediate future. [Other residents near the park also spoke in favor of keeping the park open, as well as the need for a Neighborhood Watch program to deter vandalism.]

In other business Monday night, the council approved the request for temporary street closings on Friday, October 30, for the annual BooFest. Regular traffic will be prohibited in much of the immediate downtown area between 3:45 and 6:15 p.m.

Mayor Chuck Haney presided over Monday night's meeting with the full council present.

Also Monday, the council approved the payment of invoices and payroll ($222,892.83 and $129,162.98, respectively).

PERSONNEL ISSUES
Chillicothe City Council members voted on several personnel issues during the executive session held following the regular council meeting. Among votes taken:

Chillicothe Police Department - Lt. Tony Kirkendoll was promoted to captain, filling the vacancy created by Capt. Roy Akerson, who is retiring after 26 years.

Chillicothe Fire Department - Les Hinnen, an EMT, firefighter and engineer, was promoted to lieutenant; Tracy Bradley, a firefighter/EMT, was promoted to engineer; and Bill Gutshall, a firefighter/paramedic, was promoted to training officer.