“I need help in understanding why this gate has to be closed,” said Roger Willis as he asked the Taylor Town Council last week why the access gate to Rodeo Park from Paper Mill Road was open all summer and closed in the fall.
On Sept. 14, 2005, Resolution No. 2005-24 set dates for closing the public access except from April 15 to Aug. 1, Labor Day weekend and other special events as directed by the town council.
“I’m not here to raise hate and discontent, I’m here to understand why this is closed, and why it can’t be opened and left open,” said Willis, who had asked that the issue be placed on the agenda of the Oct. 5 council meeting. “We’re living in Taylor, but it feels like we’re almost living in prison, what’s the deal here? I’d like help in understanding it, and, personally, I’d like to see it taken out and done away with.”
Mayor Fay Hatch asked to hear from someone who was with the town or on the council at the time the resolution was passed.
“As far as a reason, it was complaints from Mr. (Elmer) Magee about dust and high speed by his residence,” said Town Attorney Sterling Solomon, noting that the issue had been on the agenda several times at the request of Magee so the council finally took action and passed the resolution.
Magee explained to the council that in 1980 he had petitions signed by many people who didn’t want a dirt road through town. “I had nothing to do with this (resolution),” said Magee. “The city council proposed this themselves.
“Roger (Willis) ought to understand that since he’s having a hard time breathing,” said Magee. He also pointed out that Willis was landlocked in his place, that he built a construction building in a residential area and then built a home there and has to drive across church land. “That place shouldn’t be there to begin with.”
Mayor Hatch pointed out that the last line of the resolution states, “These restrictions will be lifted when the road is improved.”
“The last line is a concern to me,” said Councilman Gary Solomon.
Public Works Director Ron Solomon said that they had put millings down.
“I would like to see it improved,” said Councilman Shawn Palmer, explaining that he uses that access because it’s easier to get in with a big truck or long trailer than the road off Center that has a telephone pole in the middle of it. “I like the improvement idea. I would love to see more gravel, more millings, whatever’s the cheapest all over that area.”
The town attorney pointed out that the initial intent of purchasing the road was to have a road go all the way through town and that road was to connect to Centennial Blvd.
“I think it’s very little money,” said Palmer. “I see a stop sign needed, a very low speed sign and an amount of gravel needed to improve that area.”
“The problem I see with improving it is it’s not just that road, you’d have to improve the whole field to the south of Elmer’s house,” said Mayor Hatch.
Councilman Mark Reed suggested they get estimates of the cost to put curb and sidewalk, with a stop sign and light paving of gravel past the gate.
“We’re assuming a lot of things here tonight,” said Ron Solomon. “That is not a public road. It was purchased as an alternative access to the park and for someone to have legal access to their property. We can’t assume we can allow anybody to use church property.”
He went on to state that if council is serious about millings, there will be tons of them available next summer that could possibly cover the entire area. “But the last time we put millings…I’m still sore from getting chewed out,” said Solomon.
Town Manager Eric Duthie added, “We did have a lot of turbulence that came to staff and council.”
Duthie went on to say that they had agreed to work with the Rodeo Committee if they put millings down again.
After more discussion the council agreed and asked the town attorney to look at the legal situation and easements, and the public works director and the town engineer to get the costs to make the improvements, and to place this item on a future agenda.
