Parker council at impasse over vandalism at city lake
- Roger Sims, Journal Staff
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Roger Sims, Journal staff
PARKER – Vandals on four-wheelers continue to use the Parker city lake as their playground. And while the ruts those vehicles made before were reserved to areas on the banks around the lakes, they are now using the steep dam and spillway on the south end of the lake as vertical climbing tracks.
That was the report of city maintenance worker James Hazelet to the Parker City Council at its regular meeting on Thursday, June 11. In addition to creating ruts up and down the dam and spillway, someone removed the railings on a walking bridge on the north end of the lake so they could drive their vehicle across the bridge.
Hazelet said he was concerned that the ruts would cause further erosion, undermining the dam and possibly spurring the state to take action.
To even further complicate the issue, Police Chief Chris Lee met with the council in a closed door session that resulted in the council agreeing to allow him to shift his focus from patrolling the area to administrative duties only.
To help fill the gaps on patrols, council also voted to post the position for a second part-time officer to take Lee’s place. Both Mayor Jason Webber and Lee indicated that the arrangement would be under review to see how it worked.
The council originally budgeted a total of 40 hours monthly for Lee, but as his full-time job as a deputy for the Linn County Sheriff’s Office has become increasingly demanding, he requested hiring a part-time officer to help fill the gaps.
According to Linn County Sheriff James Akes, Parker ranks as the top city in the county where his deputies have to respond to calls. Pleasanton ranks second.
Regardless of who has responded or who patrols the city, the city lake, is a one mile drive on a paved county road before turning on to gravel. It is also fairly isolated and thus little protected against vandalism.
The council discussed purchasing cameras or other recorders to catch the vandals, however, Lee advised them that voting to place cameras at the lake would only result in those cameras begin stolen or destroyed.
Also at the June 11 meeting, the council agreed to a request by business owner Courtney McConico-Stephens to loosen city restrictions of when fireworks could be sold in Parker. Although the city attorney was not present, City Clerk Lisa Leach said she would contact the attorney to draft an amended ordinance.
In a brief special session on Tuesday, June 16, the council unanimously approved an ordinance that would permit the sale of fireworks within city limits from June 20 to July 7. That would be an increase of eight days more that the previous ordinance that allowed sales in a nine day period from June 27 to July 5.
A bill signed by Gov. Laura Kelly last year allows an expansion of days for seasonal retailers as well as allowing year-round sales for distributors in permanent buildings.
The resolution also prohibits the discharge fireworks except during the following times:
June 27 through July 3, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
July 4, 6 a.m. to midnight
July 5, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The council also:
Approved an ordinance that forbids use of Jake Brakes in city limits. The minimum fine for failing to abide by the resolution is $100. Jake Brakes is frequently used by semi-tractor drivers to use engine compression to slow the vehicle to a stop. The council also approved ordering signs to post at the entrances to the city.
Approved spending up to $1,000 to purchase a grapple bucket for the city’s skid-steer loader.
Approved purchasing five gallons of different brand of mosquito spray for $1,240 as well as giving Leach the go-ahead to purchase pellets to be used in standing water. Hazelet said the spray worked better if the brand was changed occasionally.
Interviewed a prospective codes officer in a closed-door session
Approved the appointment of Jered Minden to the city’s planning commission.
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