GARDEN CITY – Two of the five people accused of causing more than $5,000 in damages to Garden City’s River Park a year ago will most likely face criminal charges, the town’s council said last night in a regular council meeting.
In January 2016, five individuals drove their 4-wheel drive trucks through the park, according to Garden City Town Clerk Pam Leslie. The ground was wet, and the men “drove through the park like it was their own yard.” The joyriding caused serious damage to the grounds, particularly rutting, and the drivers ran over wooden posts that were up to keep people out of that part of the property.
The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) investigated and identified the five individuals responsible. The five men were given the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions to avoid criminal charges. They were to appear at the January 2016 Garden City Town Council meeting to address the council. Only three of the men showed up.
After the two remaining men failed to show up again Monday night at the February council meeting, charges are expected to be brought.
“Three of the men came to last month’s meeting and are working off their portion of the damages,” said Leslie. “They took responsibility for what they did.”
In other business, the council discussed and approved the purchase of a tanker truck for the Garden City Fire Department.
In new business, the council discussed pursuing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for a water extension project. The extension would be along Roland Johnson Parkway, to U.S. Highway 31, and would add three to five fire hydrants along the road.
The Town will renew a permit from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for its sewer run-off. An error made many years ago allowed the Town to have an outflow into an “unnamed tributary” when it was thought to be the Mulberry Fork. The council approved a resolution to spend $500 for Living Water Services to investigate sewer outflow and ammonia emissions.
The Town of Garden City will hold its next council meeting on Monday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
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