08/01/2024
This is an extremely long but informative post for those of you who are asking what in the world is going on…Here is a break down the best way I know how because I like you want to know what in the world is Really going on!
Over the past 7-8 years give or take a few Smokin Pig has hosted the Bowdon Car Cruise. Previously the car cruise was held in town at the Synovus/Wendy’s area. Over the course of this time the car cruise has continued to grow and expand to the point I met with the late Gary Bullock, the City manager at the time and requested his permission to allow over flow parking in the green space also known as Watts Park located behind Smokin Pig. A little background on this park was it was graciously donated to the City many many years ago (way before Smokin Pig and the Car cruise time) by the Watts family with the request being that it one day be developed. Years go by and nothing has been done with the property so the family begins to question why after the gracious donation was their wishes not carried out. It was at this time planning stages began to develop the park which seems to consist of putting gravel walking trails, some benches at a later date and maybe some picnic tables and let’s call it another City Park. They recently installed two beautiful signs at the entrance on McElroy Street and Mitchell Ave identifying the park. In case many of you don’t know we have a park just like this up town (Barr Park) if it were in the budget to maintain could be a beautiful park as could Watts Park.
This car cruise is only held one time a month April-October. When I approached Mr Bullock about the growth of the event he graciously granted permission to utilize the green space as over flow parking for the car cruise and spoke in favor of what the car cruise brought to down town Bowdon as a community. During these conversations Mr Bullock also agreed to allow us to have gravel poured (at our expense) in the back of the restaurant on the small strip up on the rise of our parking lot where our employees parked for the continued use of employee parking. Over the course of this time as cars began using the green space on the north end of the park near Smokin Pig not one time have we ever caused damage. If the grounds were wet from recent rains we even went as far as taping it off with caution tape keeping everyone out of the park so no damage would be done. You could not even tell we had been there after each event except for the fact we always left it better than we found it. Through out these years we have voluntarily kept limbs picked up, trimmed low hanging limbs, rented lifts and trimmed dead limbs, cut the grass if it wasn’t cut before car cruise and not even one time have we ever caused damage. Thousands of people have enjoyed this park with the car cruise being held here at Smokin Pig which is what the goal of a park should be. We should all be in this together but apparently it does not seem to be the case. Fast forward to what brought us here to the current issues. Early in the month of July Bowdon codes enforcement officer came to the Smokin Pig and said “they” sent me to tell you that you needed to get a permit to have the next car cruise…yes sir no problem I will get it before the next event. So July 26th, the day before the event to be held on the 27th we go to obtain the permit. They graciously take our $50 and issue the permit and say by the way you are not allowed to be on the city property anymore for the cruise. Ok so then I immediately go to the mayor and ask what the problem is and where did this come from out of the blue for no apparent legit reasons given. This had not been a problem in 8 years and now all the sudden it is??? Mr Saxon stated it was brought up by council in the meeting and they agreed they did not want us on the grass (which obviously they take no pride in maintaining, just check out the previous post and pictures). Mr Saxon also mentioned the councils intention of a fence being installed on the property line between us and the park but the fence would actually be where the gravel ends instead of on the line allowing us continued use of the parking area that is split by the property line right behind the restaurant at the edge. I expressed my disbelief and disappointment in the city council for wanting to attempt to cause the Bowdon Car Cruise to dissolve. Mr Saxon agreed to put it on the calendar for the next work session and city council meeting in August. I then went and retrieved copies of the previous council meetings and see Mr Bobby Elliot made mention of the fence but no mention was specifically made saying stay off the grass, although the purpose of a fence would clearly be to keep people out. Then I really began to question the situation in my head. Ok what required me to get a permit to hold an event on my own property??? So I call the city and ask if they can point me in the direction for my research of the code on why I had to obtain a permit anyway. I’m told it would be in the municode online under the City of Bowdon. No ma’am it’s not, I’ve already researched those codes…well ok it may be a policy. “Anytime you have an event on City Property you have to obtain a permit”. Ok we will go with that, although I’m not hosting the event in the city park I’m hosting it at Smokin Pig and cars are choosing to park on public property owned by the City because they can’t fit in my parking lot but if a permit is all it is then we will happily give another $50 to the city each month to host the car cruise but here is the kicker…you send codes to tell me I need a permit, I come get a permit no questions asked, you issue me my permit, you graciously take my $50 followed up with by the way your not allowed in the park….excuse me but you just said anytime an event is held on city property a permit is required and you issue me the permit but say stay off the property??!!? So what was I required to get the permit for then?? Make that make sense?? Then it seems after the council has seen how silly they are looking over not wanting us on the grass (they obviously haven’t taken pride in maintaining in the first place) they are shifting gears to oh it’s because of liability… well if it’s liability then identify the liability and let’s fix it, we will help! Don’t destroy something that is good for this community just because you can! Put up signs like you have at the other park up town that says Bowdon City not liable for accidents if it will make you feel better but if we want to talk liability fix all the documented liabilities listed on this page in the other parks and across town don’t try to keep people out of a successful park (Watts Park) that has had thousands of people enjoy it because of what the car cruise has brought to Bowdon all because of a liability excuse you can’t event identify. This town is a challenging town for our small businesses already! We as a community and especially our city officials should be making every effort to bring people into this town not run them out, businesses included. It increases revenue to help what few small businesses we do have to survive and believe me every little bit counts . Not even to mention you get 150 + people brought to our town from all around, (many of which may have never came here)with their antique cars for an event one time a month April -October that go in shops down town and shop, they stop and gas up and maybe grab snacks at the local convenience store, they eat out at our restaurants (not just mine) and most importantly they invest in our children. The very people you are trying to dissolve away and make impossible to continue graciously gave their time and brought their cars to the Bowdon Elementary open house last week to be a part of the lives of our children..the ones who hold our future! Not only does this make an economic impact on revenue income for the small business owners the City gets their nice share in taxes. The people it brings to our community hopefully find small businesses and restaurants that will bring them back to our community even on days it’s not the car show! Like I said That should be the goal of everyone…but quiet obviously it’s not so what’s the real problem and who is behind this! Make it make sense!!!
I ask you please take the time to read all the post on this page previously and any additional post made in the future, get involved in our City because if we do not then our city will always be what our city has always been and we will never thrive and be the city we want to be. Please stand with me next Tuesday at the city Council Workshop and the following Monday to get to the real truth behind this undue behavior and discrimination against a well known, productive member of society and small business owner in this town. It’s not right and we must take a stand! Events like this is one is very far and between now days where you can honestly say it is a family friendly event. One where the host doesn’t feel alcohol is a staple to draw in crowds, exposing our young children to that, one where at times the gospel is shared with gospel music but all of which times vulgar offensive music or actions are not tolerated or welcomed, one where the fellowship is always friendly and people of all ages come out and enjoy the afternoon, dancing the night away and making memories of a lifetime with family and friends at an alcohol free community event free of charge…yet the city wants to destroy it..I ask you again make it make sense!
Hope to see you next Tuesday at City Hall for the Workshop followed by the City Council meeting the next Monday!
