Bell Buckle bans guns in parks

Bell Buckle became the first municipality in Bedford County to officially ban guns in public parks, playgrounds and other public lands at a meeting held Monday night.

Before House Bill 716 and Senate Bill 976 were passed, carrying weapons in municipally owned parks, playgrounds, centers and other buildings was a Class A misdemeanor. Since the law passed, it is permissible to carry guns in those places, but the law had an "opt-out" provision, allowing local governments to implement their own restrictions on handguns for those parks and playgrounds.

In July, Wartrace chose not to opt out, and a proposed resolution to ban guns from the "public municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trials, campgrounds forests, greenways, waterways or other similar public places" died for lack of a motion. There was very little discussion on the matter.

Not so in Bell Buckle.

"I'm opposed to this," said Alderman Frank Reagor at the study session prior to the meeting. "I feel this is directed at the good guys. I think it will do more PR against the park than it will do good. I'll vote against it."

Reagor had support in the audience from residents Charles Cook and Gayle Winnett.

"I'm opposed to banning guns," said Cook, who asked if the ban would only be against the "good guys" with registered weapons, or against "the bad guys" with illegal weapons as well.

"But what are the 'good guys' bringing guns to the park for anyway?" asked one resident.

Winnett agreed with Reagor and Cook and said if they were licensed gun holders, they should be allowed to bring their guns to the park.

Alderman Jenny Hunt, who chairs the parks and recreation board, told the board that the resolution was only affirming the rules that were already in place before the state legislation passed.

"We're just saying we're keeping it as it has been," she said, adding that the suggestion to pass the resolution was a unanimous decision by all members of the parks and recreation board. "We don't want anybody playing with their children in our playground to feel threatened."

"Are we making an anti-guns statement here?" asked Reagor.

"Absolutely not," said Hunt.

"I'm a huge proponent of gun rights," said Alderman James Anderson. "I love guns. But I was thinking about different scenarios, I think it's more likely that an accident be caused by a gun -- I think that's much more likely than by a criminal."

"I agree with James on that," said resident Maggi Vaughn. "When the park was first established, it was for the children. We don't need someone carrying guns. They cold drop it and a child could pick it up. We don't need guns in our park."

Mayor Dennis Webb reminded the board that if circumstances changed and they felt a need to allow guns in the city parks, they could always go back and change the resolution.

"My concern is -- and I'm a proponent of gun rights -- there are still places in our society that are considered sensitive," he said. "In Bell Buckle, one of the biggest kicks I get is when I get out, people are saying, 'Why are you always changing something?' This time, we're leaving it just like it is."

Broadband proposal

Representatives from Monster Broadband visited the board meeting to explain a proposal they have for bringing broadband high speed internet to rural Bedford County, such as the Covered Bridge area near Bell Buckle. Already serving Moore County, the for-profit company works with a nonprofit agency in Nashville to determine which areas it can best serve, said Steve Baker of Monster.

"It's not our goal to duplicate services where it is already," he said. "Monster broadband is dedicated to delivering broadband to the rural and unserved areas."

The company is proposing an agreement that would allow it to use existing utility infrastructure, such as water or electric towers, to mount its equipment. In return, the company would pay the municipality rent, a figure to be determined after further negotiation.

Customers would be required to sign a two-year agreement, and the rates would be $59.95 a month for the first year and $49.95 a month the second year.

Unlike satellite-provided internet access, said Baker, "Broadband has no limits. No data limits, no speed limits."

Baker assured the board that the equipment, once mounted, would not have to be serviced on a regular basis and the company would be responsible for all repairs and maintenance. He also said the signals would not interfere with the town's current telemetry system that monitors the town's water system, nor with cell phone, radio or other existing waves being broadcast.

Webb told Baker he and the town attorney had some concerns about wording in the proposal and asked the company to look over proposed changes to the verbiage before negotiations could continue.

Other business

In other business, the board approved a purchase of up to $9,000 for new valve piping for the water system in anticipation if the day the town's principal supplier, Wartrace, finally connects with the Tullahoma Utility Board for its own water supply.

"Someone told me the water was going to go from 80 psi to 120," said Alderwoman Jenny Hunt.

Water supervisor Ronnie Lokey said the valve system would be necessary, not only to control pressure but to control flow so the tank doesn't overflow.

The board also approved the 2010 schedule events brought forward by the Chamber of Commerce.