In a 2-1 vote at a called meeting Wednesday, June 1, Bowman City Council members voted not to move forward with installation of the disc golf course at the city park.
Instead, the council will sell the equipment to Dewy Rose Baptist Church.
Council members gave approval for Acting Mayor Clay Rooker to negotiate a price for the equipment with the church.
Rooker stated he and council member Rachel Felice had met with Lane Eaton at the park to look at a possible layout for the course but Rooker said he did not think now was the time to move forward with adding things to the park when there are a number of things already in need of repair or replacement.
Rooker also suggested putting up fencing at the property and possibly installing a timed gate to keep vandals out of the park.
Councilwoman Carla Patten agreed with Rooker, stating the money could be used toward repairing the restrooms, the gazebo and the pavilion.
Felice was the lone holdout to selling the equipment. “I think we should give it a try,” said Felice.
Felice said Eaton had stated he had volunteers to help install the course and keep it up.
“I don’t even know why we’re voting on this,” said Felice. “A previous council had approved it. Why are we doing this?”
At that point, Rooker told Felice, “That’s Scott Harpold talking.”
Felice replied that she was talking for herself and those were not Harpold’s words.
Rooker also asked council member Wade Bridges for his opinion. Bridges said that he was in favor of selling the equipment.
A motion was made and seconded to sell the equipment and prior to the vote, Felice said, “I want to be sure the newspaper includes that I am adamantly opposed to this. I’m not voting for it.” Felice also said she would not be in favor of selling it for less than $3,000, although council members had discussed possibly taking a lower amount.
The city paid $3,600 for the equipment and it had not been used.
The vote was taken and the motion passed 2-1.
“I’m not against disc golf,” said Patten after the vote. “I don’t think anyone up here is. I just think we need to take care of what’s already at the park before we add things to it.”
The meeting was adjourned with no further business.