County Discusses Woodlawn Park Lease

RISON - A committee representing the Woodlawn Community Park asked the Cleveland County Quorum Court Monday night for more time before deciding on  whether the board overseeing the facility would enter into a long-term lease with the county for the property. Meanwhile, the quorum court approved a new personnel policy handbook for county employees after going through the months-long process of revamping the entire policy. Those and other issues were addressed during the quorum court’s regular monthly meeting held Monday night at the courthouse in Rison. Angela Sipes, representing a group of four people currently involved with the Woodlawn Community Park, told the quorum court that they were hesitant to enter into a lease agreement for fear it would eliminate the liability protection offered through the county. However, County Judge Melody Spears pointed out that the liability protection offered by the county is for the county only, and it does not extend to any group or organization that is using the park. Ownership and oversight of Woodlawn Community Park came into question this past April when the park requested money from the county to replace some air conditioning units in the Woodlawn Community Center. That request generated some questions from the quorum court regarding the county’s connection to the park. Spears and members of the quorum court assumed the park was owned and operated by the committee and/or association that is overseeing it. However, Larry Reynolds of the Woodlawn area, who was one of the original county-appointed committee members to oversee the formation of the park, pointed out that while the land for the park was originally purchased by a local group in 1977, ownership of the property was eventually turned over to the county for grant purposes. Subsequent research after Reynolds’ remarks revealed that the county does own the property. Spears nor any of the e...