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Ripley alderman proposes fenced gate for toddler playground; board moves item to next meeting
Summary
Alderman Law proposed erecting a fenced gate around a small toddler playground on Mary Roberts Drive; the board discussed costs and budget gaps and agreed to move the item to the next meeting to allow department liaison input.
Alderman Law proposed at the Oct. 6 Ripley Board of Aldermen meeting that the city enclose a small toddler playground on Mary Roberts Drive with a fence and gate to improve child safety.
“I just think it'd be a good idea … to let people know there are rays of sunlight, there are things we can do to make a positive difference in our town for our kids,” Alderman Law said, describing the equipment as geared toward toddlers and expressing concern about unsupervised young children leaving the play area.
The proposal generated questions about compliance with any building or facility ownership constraints and whether discussion with the parks liaison or other officials would implicate open-meeting rules. Mayor Fitzhugh and other board members recommended deferring the matter so the parks liaison and City Attorney Rachel Jackson could weigh in and to allow time to confirm whether the proposed work would require coordination with other owners.
Board members discussed a price obtained by Alderman Shipman for installing a fence; Shipman reported an approximate cost of about $14,300. Board members noted the project was not included in the current budget. “It's gonna be about 14,000,” Shipman said during the meeting.
Rather than vote on the purchase or allocate funding, the board agreed to move the item to the next regular meeting so the parks liaison and the city attorney could review legal and logistical questions and so the board could identify possible funding sources. The motion was tabled and the mayor said the item will be placed early in the next meeting’s agenda for fuller consideration.
