Clarksville, Tenn. – At their Executive Session Thursday the Clarksville City Council took up the issue of a new policy for the sale and use of alcoholic beverages in city parks and facilities. 
 
City Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin, Chairperson of the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department Committee said that after a great deal of work an ordinance is ready that will apply to facilities at Liberty Park, the Clarksville Marina, McGregor Park, Fort Defiance Interpretive Center and city golf courses..
 
City Attorney Lance Baker said the proposed ordinance starts by having a blanket ban on all types of alcohol on all city parks and recreation facilities which is the default.  From that default it creates exceptions where alcohol is allowed. 
 
Baker added it gives the parks and recreation department the authority to sell alcohol and it also allows private entities, individuals, businesses and organizations to also use and possess alcohol in certain situations after approval from the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department.
 
Also at Thursday’s meeting Mayor Kim McMillan updated the council on the latest information about the official Charter of the City of Clarksville.  The changes to the charter put forth by the Clarksville Charter Revision Commission were approved by both the Tennessee State House and Senate and the document has now been returned to the city.
 
The new City Charter will be on the agenda and is expected to be voted on at the Regular Session of the City Council at their July 5 meeting.  The charter must be passed by a 2/3 majority of the City Council for it to be accepted.
 
Clarksville City Attorney Lance Baker addressed the council about both the old City Charter and the new City Charter.  “In my opinion as the City Attorney and your advisor, what we have now is totally inadequate and the new charter is a much, much better improvement and I would urge the council strongly to pass the charter,” Baker said.
 
Another item on the council’s agenda was a resolution that would support a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) study for a new road to connect the Memorial Drive Extension and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.                                                                                 
 
The local state legislative delegation has requested the resolution be passed by the council so TDOT can do the study at no cost to the city.  Mayor McMillan emphasized that it was just a feasibility study and there were no specific routes in place for the road or any plans to move forward with building the roadway.
 
The issue of the extreme heat that the region is suffering from came up at the council meeting when City Councilwoman Kay Jones asked Mayor McMillan what plans the city has for helping people who don’t have air conditioners or shelter from the heat.
 
McMillan asked the Director of the Clarksville Housing and Community Development, Keith Lampkin to speak to the council about what programs are in place for those people who are in need of help.                                                                                                        
 
Lampkin said his office had prepared an information card that City Council members can pass along to their constituents which lists agencies the city supports that helps the homeless and low income residents.
 
“I can tell you if any of your constituents believe that they are having an issue.  All you have to do is contact the many state agencies of state government and especially Keith Lampkin who can send you in the right direction to make sure they can get the help they need,” said Mayor McMillan.
 
The Clarksville City Council will hold their Regular Session on Thursday, July 5 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 106 Public Square. 




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