Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - A request from a young adult for the town to leave the lights on at the basketball court until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays was taken under consideration, but problems with noise are keeping the Etna Green Town Council hesitant.
Kimm Johnston told council members during Tuesday's meeting that he understands and agrees with their assessment that the music is too loud coming from various "boom boxes" and car stereos at the park. Johnston said he goes to Heritage Park to play basketball and he isn't among the teen-agers who are playing their music at window-vibrating levels.
Johnston asked that the extended hours be instituted from June 15 through Aug. 15. The park normally closes at 10 p.m. each night. Johnston was one of more than half a dozen young adults who attended the council meeting at the suggestion of local business owner Terry Julian.
"This seems to be getting out of hand on both parts," Julian said, "both the younger adults wanting to use the basketball courts and the older people complaining about the noise." Julian also said that acts of aggression have occurred at the park, "but no blows were thrown."
Johnston said he appreciated Julian coming and talking with the group of young adults at the park Monday night. "He took time to talk to us like we were human beings, acknowledging that we breathe the same air," Johnston said. "That's better than adults coming up with weapons and shaking them in our faces." Town officials were not aware of any allegations of weapons being brought to the park, but Johnston said it did happen.
Eugene Neyhart, who lives directly across from the basketball courts, said he enjoys the young people at the park and the lights from the courts don't bother him. He also said he is hard of hearing - an affliction resulting from contact with loud noise when he was younger - "but we've put up with all the noise we're going to put up with. ... When you rattle my windows, it's a different pitch and I can hear that."
Neyhart said the noise level during the past three weeks has been lower, but Monday night was an exception. Julian said he approached the kids Monday at the park after the noise reached downtown.
"The attitude is, 'if they don't like it, they don't have to listen to it,'" Julian said, "but they do have to listen to it."
"The sad part is that the people who are doing it aren't here," one teen-age girl said.
Signs listing the park rules are expected to be posted in the next couple of weeks. The council Tuesday approved the purchase, but the money for the signs will not be available until after an appropriation also approved Tuesday is OK'd by the State Board of Accounts.
Council president Eileen Hall said that use of the park is a privilege and with that comes responsibility. Although not all of the young adults using the park are participating in playing loud music, Hall said, "Unfortunately, this group is being punished right along with the 'bad' kids." She added: "If the park is ruined, it's closed for everybody."
Complaints also have been made regarding trash, including soda cans and cigarette butts, being left around the basketball courts.
Fines that could be levied might not be enough to keep the kids from playing their music, according to town attorney Jay Rigdon, who said he's sure the residents would rather the noise stop than the teens be ticketed.
No action was taken, but everyone concerned with the matter was able to voice his or her opinion.
In other park news, the council approved the park advisory board's request to disband and become a private group called "Friends of Heritage Park."
Hall said the nonprofit group was formed after frustrations amounted with both the park board and the town council, and the decision to disband was a mutual one.
Although it is now a private group, the "Friends" must still seek council approval for placement of equipment and to receive funds budgeted for the park. A recent donation to the town was earmarked for the park by the previous council and the $5,000 was appropriated as follows: $400 for custodial; $300 for cleaning supplies, $1,000 for utilities and $3,300 for buildings and grounds.
The resolution discussed at prior meetings regarding rentals at the park was approved, with the standard building rental at $50; fund-raising by local nonprofit groups at $45; fund-raising by for-profit groups at $65; and tables and chairs at $1 each and 25 cents each, respectively. There is no charge for tables and chairs for people renting the park building, only for those taking the items for use at another location.
The town council comprises Hall, Jeff Klinefelter and Ruben "R.B." Conley. The council meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the fire station meeting room. An additional public meeting is set for 7 p.m. June 27 to discuss various town issues.
