Ralston considers downtown skating ban by Mahalia Asanaeny (World-Herald Staff Writer) Skaters could be booted from downtown Ralston if a city proposal is approved. On Tuesday, city officials wheeled out a proposal that would ban all skating in an area roughly bounded by Burlington, State, 75th and 77th Streets. It also would apply to private property in commercial areas around the city, if the owners posted a ban on their properties. The proposed ordinance includes a punishment of up to three months in jail or a $1,000 fine for using a skateboard, in-line skates or roller skates downtown, City Attorney Mark Klinker said. The ordinance is the city's latest attempt to prevent skaters from damaging property. The skateboards and in-line skates chip away at concrete and cause nicks and gouges in brick and other building surfaces. Council Bluffs and Omaha have similar bans in downtown areas. Ralston Mayor Don Groesser said the law would give the Police Department authority to issue tickets. The city has made several attempts to discourage skaters. Two years ago, the city put rubber tops on concrete ledges and railings in front of City Hall. The city also put up a sign that reads "No skateboarding, No roller skating, No rollerblading" at the entrance of City Hall - to no avail. Assistant Police Chief Ronald Murtaugh said several merchants also have complained about property damage. But city officials doubt that the ordinance would be strictly enforced. Murtaugh said he would first educate kids and parents about the law if it passes. He hoped police would only have to issue warnings. The proposed ordinance drew mixed reactions from council members Tuesday. "What's next?" asked Councilman Craig Alberhasky. He said the city doesn't need a law to ban kids from skating downtown.
"Are we going to tell kids they can't drive a bike down the street?" For the city, another major concern is liability in the event of an accident. The issue has been complicated even more, Groesser said, by a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling in September that left cities scrambling to insure their skate parks and other high-risk recreational areas. The ruling said a state liability-limit law did not apply to publicly owned recreation facilities. Fifteen-year-old John Patrick said the city is leaving skateboarders out in the cold.: "We don't have anywhere else to skate," said Patrick, a sophomore at Ralston High School. "Everywhere we go, they yell at us." Patrick said that while Omaha and Council Bluffs have bans similar to the one being considered by Ralston, those towns also have skate parks. Ralston does not plan to open one. "We don't want to get hurt, we are just trying to have fun." Ultimately, it all comes down to safety, said downtown business owner Keith Kettelhut. "We just don't want them to get hurt," he said. Kettelhut said kids often skate on the sidewalk in front of his Ralston Fuel and Service and Ralston Automotive shops and skate down the incline along Main Street. Groesser said if kids want to have fun on their skateboards, they'll have to do it on their own property or at area skate parks. "We just want them to be as safe as they can," he said.
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