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Brookings leaders defend public access to 'Social Security Bar' and call for increased state and county patrols
Summary
City leaders and a county commissioner discussed rising problems at a nearby gravel bar, urged more patrols by Oregon State Police and the sheriff’s office, and opposed gating or day-use fees that would restrict public access.
Mayor Hodges and other Brookings officials addressed public-safety and access concerns at the city’s April 28 meeting after several residents raised alarms about behavior at the nearby gravel bar known in the discussion as Social Security Bar.
Mayor Hodges said the gravel bar is public and opposed restricting access or charging a day-use fee, saying it’s “the closest gravel bar for the people who live in the city of Brookings to enjoy the river.” He told council members the city owns access and that the state and county agencies share enforcement responsibility for the area.
Commissioner Trust (introduced during the public-comment period) thanked city staff and the police chief for recent coordination with the Oregon State Police (OSP) and said overtime patrols and other controls were being put in place. The commissioner said that collaboration had been “extremely beneficial and collaborative.”
Mayor Hodges and others urged stronger, sustained patrols by OSP and the Curry County sheriff rather than measures that would restrict access, such as gating or day-use fees. Hodges said the division of state lands shows the legal boundary and that boulders placed to block public access had been located below the state boundary shown on that map.
Council members and the mayor also raised broader concerns about county-level transparency and law-enforcement responsiveness. Mayor Hodges described unresolved issues with public records requests and alleged report falsification involving the marine board, and he said the sheriff’s office had not provided adequate public communication. He urged constituents to take concerns to county leadership so funding and oversight of patrols can be addressed.
City staff and the police chief were credited with meeting stakeholders and coordinating with OSP and the sheriff’s office to increase presence at the site; staff said follow-up would continue.
Ending: Council emphasized keeping the gravel bar open to public use while asking for sustained state and county enforcement attention and clearer interagency coordination.
