Council reaffirms no guns in town parks
Jeff Eason
In a rare procedural point of order Tuesday, Blowing Rock Town Council members recast their votes to approve consideration of an amendment to Chapter 15 of the town code regarding weapons on town property.
Once again, the consideration was approved by a 3-2 majority.
The matter was revisited because of a provision that when a decision has not had prior discussion or public comment and is decided by less than a two-thirds majority, it must be brought up again at the next public meeting of the town council.
The 3-2 votes means that the town maintains restrictions on gun possession in Blowing Rock Memorial Park, Davant Field and the Grover Robbins Swimming Complex.
Council members Dan Phillips and Tommy Klutz cast the dissenting votes.
In other Blowing Rock Town Council news, the commissioners:
• Voted unanimously to approve quarterly closed session meetings to discuss town personnel matters.
• Voted unanimously to approve a consideration of a resolution to direct the town clerk, Sharon Greene, to determine the sufficiency of the voluntary annexation of the Blowing Rock Conference Center. The center, sitting on 58.9 acres off of Goforth Road, wishes to be connected to the town’s sewer system. The center has proposed voluntary annexation into the town and will pay for the installation of sewer lines.
• Voted unanimously to approve a request from the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce to renew its downtown Fresh Market this year. The farmers market-style event will be held each Thursday afternoon between May 17 and Oct. 18.
The event is held on Wallingford Street in front of the Blowing Rock American Legion Hall and the commissioners will be looking into allowing market merchants to also place their booths on Park Avenue up to the driveway entrance to the Blowing Rock Police Department if space allows.
• Voted unanimously to approve a consideration of a resolution requesting an ambulance base location in the Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue station on Valley Boulevard. According to BRF&R deputy chief Kent Graham, having an ambulance at the station would cut down on response times in Blowing Rock and the southern end of Watauga County.
If finalized, the ambulance would be manned and maintained by Watauga Rescue. Discussions about a possible move are being conducted by a number of county agencies.
• Voted unanimously to approve a resolution designating Feb. 28 as Spay Day for animals in the town of Blowing Rock.
• Voted unanimously to approve a consideration establishing the starting meeting time of 5:30 p.m. for the regular monthly meeting of the commissioners. The council has been meeting at 5 p.m. for the past year or so.
The new time will begin in April and end in November.
The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Blowing Rock Town Council will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at Blowing Rock Town Hall.
Once again, the consideration was approved by a 3-2 majority.
The matter was revisited because of a provision that when a decision has not had prior discussion or public comment and is decided by less than a two-thirds majority, it must be brought up again at the next public meeting of the town council.
The 3-2 votes means that the town maintains restrictions on gun possession in Blowing Rock Memorial Park, Davant Field and the Grover Robbins Swimming Complex.
Council members Dan Phillips and Tommy Klutz cast the dissenting votes.
In other Blowing Rock Town Council news, the commissioners:
• Voted unanimously to approve quarterly closed session meetings to discuss town personnel matters.
• Voted unanimously to approve a consideration of a resolution to direct the town clerk, Sharon Greene, to determine the sufficiency of the voluntary annexation of the Blowing Rock Conference Center. The center, sitting on 58.9 acres off of Goforth Road, wishes to be connected to the town’s sewer system. The center has proposed voluntary annexation into the town and will pay for the installation of sewer lines.
• Voted unanimously to approve a request from the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce to renew its downtown Fresh Market this year. The farmers market-style event will be held each Thursday afternoon between May 17 and Oct. 18.
The event is held on Wallingford Street in front of the Blowing Rock American Legion Hall and the commissioners will be looking into allowing market merchants to also place their booths on Park Avenue up to the driveway entrance to the Blowing Rock Police Department if space allows.
• Voted unanimously to approve a consideration of a resolution requesting an ambulance base location in the Blowing Rock Fire and Rescue station on Valley Boulevard. According to BRF&R deputy chief Kent Graham, having an ambulance at the station would cut down on response times in Blowing Rock and the southern end of Watauga County.
If finalized, the ambulance would be manned and maintained by Watauga Rescue. Discussions about a possible move are being conducted by a number of county agencies.
• Voted unanimously to approve a resolution designating Feb. 28 as Spay Day for animals in the town of Blowing Rock.
• Voted unanimously to approve a consideration establishing the starting meeting time of 5:30 p.m. for the regular monthly meeting of the commissioners. The council has been meeting at 5 p.m. for the past year or so.
The new time will begin in April and end in November.
The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Blowing Rock Town Council will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at Blowing Rock Town Hall.