The Commons in downtown Columbus, and the Bartholomew County Courthouse are shown. The metro area and county are among Indiana’s fastest-growing for 2022, though statewide population growth was the lowest in a decade due largely to effects of the pandemic.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Commons Board voted Wednesday to approve and post new building rules that prohibit a number of actions on the premises, including loitering, soliciting, panhandling, sleeping or laying down, cluttering spaces with personal belongings, bringing in outside alcohol, smoking and vaping.
Columbus Parks Associate Director of Business Services Pam Harrell said that the city worked with the Columbus Police Department, code enforcement and legal counsel to develop the rules and plan on posting a sign to help with enforcement.
“Are these same rules in place any place else in the parks department or city?” asked board member Sherry Stark.
“Not at any of our facilities,” Harrell replied. “We’re starting with The Commons. We’re going to see how that goes, and then we will probably grow from there.”
In considering the rules, board members said that there should be some language added that helps explain or soften the list. This was incorporated into the motion, with the understanding that Harrell will revise the sign based on members’ concerns.
“We can open it up with ‘Thank you for using our space. Below is a list of rules we would like everyone to abide by,’ or something like that,” she said. “But I’ll send that out to you guys before we actually have it printed or made.”
Additionally, City Councilwoman Grace Kestler suggested that the rule prohibiting pets on the premises should possibly be amended to prohibit any animals except service animals.
She also said, prior to voting, that she was “struggling” with the no loitering rule.
“Are we trying to encourage certain individuals to not hang out in certain areas by this, by the definition of loitering?” she asked.
“I mean, it is a city park, right?” said board member Erin Hawkins. “So kind of by nature.”
“I know people have been using it as the warming space,” said Kestler. “I mean, I think we all know the reason these rules are coming. But I just didn’t know if someone’s sitting there and happens to be homeless … no pets, no violence, whatever, and they’re just sitting there from eight ‘til close, is that not allowed?”
She also asked how the no loitering rule would be applied during times when the building is used as a warming center, as it was during the arctic blast in December.
Harrell replied The Commons will not be used as a warming center in the future.
She added that customers who rent the upper performance hall or lobby don’t want people loitering downstairs during their events.
“That’s one of the reasons why we developed this list, is to try to help hinder some of that,” she said.
For the complete story, see Friday’s Republic.
