Mansfield City Council sets new reservation policy

More than a dozen people spoke during the public comment portion of last week’s City of Mansfield City Council meeting to offer opinions relating to the reservation of the town’s public square and other public spaces.
The meeting featured around 50 people packed in to City Hall just five days after counter protests were held on the public square as a result of an apparent double booking and the City Council canceling all reservations for the month of June.
At its conclusion, City of Mansfield Mayor Derrick Neal  addressed those in attendance.
“This is all based on a lack of formal procedure and there was no good tracking so that is why we got into this situation to start with,” Mayor Neal noted. “There will be a 30 day waiting period, but after the ordinance (is read), if approved, then we can move forward from there.”
Mayor Neal then began a first reading of the new “Reservation and Use Policy” and the “Application and Code o Conduct.”
The policies provide an official application process to reserving public parks, pavilions, the town square and other community spaces. Reservations muse be made 30 days prior to the event and provides a list of what is needed for the paperwork.
Legacy events that have been held for at least 25 years, such as Wilder Days, are exempt from the process.
Ordinance No. 901 was then approved by the Board by a unanimous vote, which led to an applause from the big crowd.
A large number of those who spoke in the earlier public comment section eluded to their desire that the City Council would not take away the ability to reserve public spaces like the square.
Darrel Swofford, a democratic candidate for the District 141 race, who is also from Mountain Grove, expressed that he felt the City Council made the wrong decision to cancel reservations at the last meeting.
“I think you made the wrong decision and I hope you correct it,” he said.
Another person making a comment was Dakota Low, of Ava.
“That square belongs to all of us,” he noted.
Many speakers talked about  the need for pride events like the one that was canceled and how they benefit the LGBTQ+ community.
“A connected community is a healthy community,” said Aaron Kitchens, The GLO Center Executive Director of Springfield.
There were also a couple of people who spoke in opposition to pride events being held in what was described as a Mansfield community known for being conservative.
Sherry Friend noted how the Farmers Market was affected with the City Council’s decision on the square in June.
“It is our town, it is our square and it is our community,” she noted.