HURRICANE - Putnam County residents once again spoke out against allowing alcohol at Hurricane's Valley Park.
With the proposed rules, alcohol would be permitted only at the Valley Park Commons and Community Center in Hurricane with prior approval.
Scott Williamson, executive director of Putnam County Parks and Recreation, would have the authority to approve alcohol served for weddings, and all other events would have to be approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission's planning committee and the board.
Bill O'Dell, with the Putnam Wellness Coalition, requested the Parks and Recreation Commission include a line in the rules and regulations stating that it is illegal to give alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.
Commission President Joesph Tyree said they would include the line in the rental agreement instead of in the actual rules and regulations.
Chris Patrick, a resident, said allowing alcohol in the park would increase the number of drunk drivers on the premises, putting the runners and children playing at risk.
"One thing I'm pretty sure of, whoever posted this liquor in the park would be just as guilty as the person behind the steering wheel committing these crimes," Patrick said.
A.J. Cline, a 10-year resident of Putnam County, said he started drinking with his father in Mingo County at age five.
Now, after being clean from addiction for two years, he said he's concerned about his children seeing people drinking at the park.
"There's going to be drug problems, cocaine - a lot of nasty stuff," Cline said. "I'm just asking you not to allow sale of alcohol in the park. It will just cause too much trouble."
Resident Jered Green called upon the Parks and Recreation Commission to eliminate all alcohol in the park to prevent problems. He brought up Tyree saying you can't stop people from drinking at a previous meeting.
"If you really want to limit it, I think the best thing is to not have it period," Green said.
Ron Foster, candidate for Putnam County Commission, said he is personally opposed against alcohol in the park, but that he thinks the rules have come a long way from their original position.
He called for an on-duty police officer at any event where alcohol is served, and limit contact between attendees at major events and park-goers. He also suggested increasing the insurance requirement for events to $2 million.
Karen Dillard, also a Putnam County resident, asked the commission how much it costs to rent the facilities. Williamson told her it is $500 for the first five hours, and $50 per hour after that. There is a $500 damage deposit for the rental, which increases to $700 if alcohol is served, Williamson said.
He added that there is a wedding at the park almost every weekend during summer months, and roughly half request alcohol at their functions - mainly just to do a champagne toast.
Dillard, who obviously was upset, asked the commission what she's supposed to tell her son if he questions why there are events with alcohol near his baseball games, which could cause drunk drivers.
"I'm supposed to say, 'Your life today is worth the extra $200 dollars,'" Dillard said.
Putnam resident Chad Estep called out Joe Haynes, Putnam County commissioner and parks commission member, for telling WCHS-TV that the board will not allow alcohol in the parks. When Haynes tried to clarify, Estep would not let him speak.
Amy Whittington, who was late to the meeting and didn't sign up for the public comment, was visibly upset when commissioners told her she couldn't speak at the meeting. Instead she asked the commission whether they knew if two glasses of wine could make someone drunk- which she insisted it could.
"Did you know two glasses of wine, that's buzzed driving," Whittington said. "Just at a wine tasting you're going to feel the results."
The commission members told her that she could speak to any of the members after the meeting, or submit a comment via email.
The Parks and Recreation Commission will vote on the final draft of the rules and regulations at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 1.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.