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Time for a new Town Manager
I have to really question his leadership and vision, or lackthereof. For example, the decision to construct the skate board park was a HUGE mistake. It's only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or god forbid, killed. Who in the world approves a empty swimming pool with NO attendant on Town property?? In the first week of it's operation, Life Guard 10 had to land on the BHS football field and air lift someone out of there. The half-ass snow fence they put around it has fallen down (which further demonstrates how half-a$$ the leadership is), and the park is NEVER supervised. There have been accidents, fights, and all sorts of negative behavior. There are videos all over YouTube showing kids doing stunts, tricks, & etc....Some even show kids getting injured......And guess what, NONE of them are wearing helmets. Very useful supporting evidence in the event of a lawsuit one day.
A park of that size needs a fence to keep someone from falling in it after hours (or using it and getting injured) and a full time attendant like a lifeguard at a pool. If the Town can't afford such things, then they shouldn't have built it. The town wouldn't dream of having a swimming pool without a fence or an attendant, so why would you have a skateboard park without the same??
Furthermore, with all the "needs" in the town, why spend almost $200,000 on something that will ultimately result in the town and it's citizens getting sued. Only an idiot (Our Rec Director Dean Crane) would propose to build such a thing, and only a hands off absenteeism Town Manager and Town Attorney would approve it.
The $200K could have gone to so many more useful endeavors....New active recreation space, park improvements, Rec Center renovations, or a number of other beneficial projects. Even if it weren't a liability beacon, spending that kind of money on something that ultimately appeals to a small group of citizens is a further waste of resources.
If these type of decisions are indicative of our management's vision and decision making, then we need a new Town Manager. Surely our town attorney can't feel good about the current state of the park. I would encourage citizens to drive by and see this abyss for themselves.
I don't agree
Ok, so I'm relatively young, new to this whole thing, but get a grip. You're a coward for not leaving your name, by the way. Were you involved in any of the processes that might have stopped the skate park? Did you attend the meetings, speak to local officials, call the editor at the Roanoke Times? DID YOU DO ANYTHING? The fact that the park doesn't appeal to the masses is not reason enough not to have one. I don't disagree that there's danger and injury involved, but lets face it...there is in everything we do these days. I'm not afraid to take my children to a town park where they can fall off the top of the slide, and GASP, there are no attendants! Hmmm...they could get kicked by someone on a swing, have a finger crushed by a swing chain, lose a tooth on the ride on toys, or even get an infection from a sliver received while playing at Hand N Hand park.
If you have the time to think these ideas through, and then post them, you have the time to go to the skate park and offer your services as "lookout" so that you can be the first one to tell the injured kid's parents that they should sue!
Where were you when we were fighting Walmart? Probably in front of your computer, hiding behind your screen while the rest of us were out fighting.
Very well stated. You
Very well stated. You should identify yourself and run for office.
But a new Town Manager?
Sure, it sound like the Park is a bad idea. But surly one bad park is not the only reason to call for a new Town Manager?
I would agree
We're going to need the new Wal-Mart and all of it's new found taxes in order to pay for the lawsuit that hits one day. I just shake my head when I look at what the Town did. Only in Blacksburg would something like this happen.