Drexel follows Morganton in implementation of public property ordinance

The Town of Drexel has followed the City of Morganton by enacting an ordinance that includes several rules for public property, including no camping or accessing parks and public facilities after operating hours.

Town Manager Bill Carroll said the creation of the ordinance comes after community concerns about people sleeping in the downtown park. While he said Drexel does not have a large, unhoused population, the ordinance is intended to be a proactive measure.

The City of Morganton passed a new ordinance in early August to address crime primarily occurring at the courthouse square at night. The change prohibits access to parks and public spaces from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Drexel did not previously have a code of conduct for public facilities, according to Carroll. The rules added in Drexel’s ordinance, Carroll said, were taken from other nearby towns.

Rules prohibit the following:

• Damaging, altering, tampering, or removing any park property. This includes buildings, bridges, furniture, utilities, fences, signs, monuments, markers, water features, and any other structures, equipment, or facilities.
• Digging or removing soil, rocks, plants, wood, or other materials, or making any kind of excavation, unless you are in a designated area for that purpose.
• Constructing or erecting any structure or installing utilities on the land unless you have a special written permit.
• Damaging, removing, or harming any tree or plant, taking flowers or seeds, attaching anything to them, or tying animals to them.
• Climbing, standing, or sitting on monuments, fountains, railings, fences, trees, or any other property not meant for that use.
• Possessing, using, or consuming any illegal drugs or being under the influence of any illegal drugs while in a park.
• Starting a fire or throwing burning or flammable items in any park area.
• Entering an area posted as “closed to the public” or using the area in violation of posted notices.
• Lying or sleeping on seats, tables, or benches.
• Intentionally disturbing other park visitors.
• Accessing the park or property after the operating hours that are posted on the property.

The new rules do not apply to town-owned properties not open to the public. In that case, any unauthorized access would be considered trespassing, Carroll said.

The unhoused population in Drexel is not large by any means, according to Police Chief Stephen Ritchie. “We deal with the same three or four people and it’s usually in the warmer months. We see less of them in the winter.”

Currently, Ritchie said officers have not encountered any issues when asking individuals to leave an area. Carroll noted, however, that the ordinance provides officers with greater authority to remove individuals who shouldn’t be on the property.

Some residents voiced complaints about unhoused people sleeping near the Hallyburton Academy walking track. Carroll said the track falls under the school district’s jurisdiction, meaning the school board would need to establish its own policy. Drexel officers do patrol the area when school isn’t in session, Ritchie said.

The town still has to install signage at the downtown park, which Carroll said he will be ordering as soon as possible and posting upon arrival. The R.O. Huffman Center and Town Hall already have signage posted. The ordinance is effective immediately.

SPEED BUMPS

The aldermen also discussed the possibility of creating a speed bump policy to address speeding on town-owned streets. The board ultimately decided to instruct staff to see whether residents would like to have speed bumps on their road. In Belmont, where Carroll previously worked, 75% of residents on the street had to approve adding them.

However, Carroll said he’s open to other traffic-calming measures. Ritchie said that he isn’t opposed to speed bumps if that’s what the majority of residents want on their road, but with the understanding that the police and fire departments would be able to absorb any additional vehicle maintenance.