Laura Dunfee speaks at the meeting about skateboarders in Skubitz Plaza. [Click to enlarge]

At Tuesday's city commission meeting, Dunfee said she regularly sees skateboarders at the plaza, jumping off picnic tables via homemade ramps.

Dunfee operates a business on the plaza and has a clear view of the supposed activity.

Tribune Photos/Michael Glover Fort Scott Mayor Gary Bukowski (right) reviews documents at the city commission meeting Tuesday. It marked Bukowksi's second time presiding over a meeting since taking over mayoral duties from Commissioner Dick Hedges (left). [Click to enlarge]

"I don't care if kids want to skateboard, that's fine," Dunfee said. "But, these young adults bring a ramp that's exactly the right height of picnic tables, so it's a planned excursion. They set everything up and they actually jump the picnic table. They're destroying the picnic tables on Skubitz Plaza."

Dunfee also said the skateboarding activities are "creating a barrier" between the people who visit the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the business directly across Old Fort Boulevard.

"They don't want to go though the line of skateboarders," she said. "We actually have potential customers coming out of the fort and being appalled that they're jumping on the picnic tables. It's not so much the skateboarding but the destruction of property. I think this is something that needs to be addressed before someone ends up seriously injured."

Commissioners viewed numerous pictures Dunfee took of the damaged picnic tables.

She has called Fort Scott Police several times about the skateboarders. "When they started jumping the tables again, we called police and there was a response. An officer came out and spoke with one of the teens for about 15 seconds, got back in his car and left," Dunfee said. "They (the skateboarders) were there for another hour, jumping away."

Public Safety Director Jeff Davis attended the meeting, as did a police sergeant. Davis said after the meeting he will have gather more information and insight on the subject, which was news to him, before commenting. After the meeting, he viewed the pictures Dunfee captured and will be reviewing them.

"We definitely have to stop this ASAP because they (skateboarders) are tearing it up the area badly," Commissioner Nick Graham said of the skateboarding and possible criminal damage to the tables. "At the same time, I think there's enough of this going on (skateboarding) for us to look at building a state park like the ones in Pittsburg and Nevada."

He mentioned the city taking the initiative or "get the ball" rolling on bringing a skate park to Fort Scott.

A few months ago at a commission meeting, church group came to the commission about assisting in building a skate park, so there is community interest in the facility.

In other business, commissioners:

* heard the results of the city's 2007 audit of its accounting books by auditor Terry Sercer, an accountant from Diel, Banwart, Bolton accounting firm. It was all good news for the city's financial records, as they were in compliance with generally accepted accounting principals and no statutory violations of state statutes.

The city started 2007 with $648,946 in the general fund and ended the year with $763,887. "That's a good thing," Sercer said. "You generally like to have a month, preferably two months of expenses reserved in your general fund."

* approved a low bid of $32,886 from Murphy Roofing Company to replace three metal roofs at the public works building on Sidney Street. The roof will be comprised of polyurethane foam and coating to the existing metal roof.

* ordered the repair or demolition of structures located at 219 N. Eddy St., 102 S. Hill St., and 759 Barbee St.

* gave plaques and praise to City Attorney Bob Farmer for being the interim city manager for about five months until they found current city manager Joe Turner. "I think he went above and beyond what he had to do," Graham said, who presented the plaque to Farmer.

"It my privilege to sort of move things along a bit, and I appreciate that opportunity," Farmer said. "I'm very proud to say that we're in very capable hands and Joe is doing a wonderful job."

* Newly appointed Mayor Gary Bukowski presented a plaque to Commissioner Dick Hedges for serving as mayor for the past year. "When I was elected mayor, I felt like he would be my guiding light and so far he has," Bukowski said.