A bill that would force county parks commissions to allow guns in parks was a hot topic of discussion Thursday at the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
The bill (SB 254) forbids county parks commissions from regulating firearms. Kanawha Parks Commission Chairman Allen Tackett said the bill is aimed specifically at the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission because it is the only commission in the state that forbids guns in county parks.
Some members discussed installing signs saying "we discourage people from bringing guns into the park" if the law were to pass.
But executive director Jeff Hutchinson said that he was afraid to draw that kind of attention.
"I'm afraid you're going to get these guys carrying not just handguns, but AR-15s," Hutchinson said.
The commission voted last year to remove penalties for people who carry guns into county parks. Currently if a person brings a gun into a Kanawha County park, the person is asked to leave.
Introduced in the Senate on Jan. 13, state senators voted unanimously to pass the bill and send it to the House. The bill currently is awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee, where it has been since Feb. 4.
"We just need to wait and see what happens," Tackett said. "You just don't know."
The commission also heard about plans to operate the gates at the entrance of Coonskin Park on an electronic system.
The goal is to have the gates open automatically at 7:30 a.m. Employees arriving before the park opens will have an access code to allow them to open the gate.
Plans are moving along, but Hutchinson is having trouble getting the parts needed to make the gate work.
Also, the Coonskin Foundation is planning to host a golf tournament to raise money to make improvements on the golf facilities at the park.
The Foundation still is looking to build a roof over the driving range and install a putting green nearby. The putting green likely won't be ready until July.
"We're looking to have a lot better golf season than we had last season," Hutchinson said.
In other action:
n The parks commission will allow the Warrior Wellness program with the National Guard to use some land in county parks. The land will be used for hiking and horse back riding for veterans and soldiers with post traumatic stress disorder.
n The commission was audited by Balestra, Hall and Scherer, CPAs Inc.
n The commission voted to change their meetings from 8:30 a.m. on Thursdays to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Reach Daniel Desrochers at dan.desrochers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4886 or follow @drdesrochers on Twitter.