County to hold workshop on boat ramps

An amended ordinance concerning boat ramps will be the topic of discussion at an Aug. 17 Washington County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) workshop.

Commissioners say they want to hear from the public regarding what they believe will help boat ramps, parks and recreation run more efficiently.

BOCC Chairman Tray Hawkins says the board is holding the workshop to hear what the public wants out of the ordinance and how to improve on parks and recreation.

“We want to hear what our constituents have to say about boat ramps and our parks and recreation department,” said Hawkins. “Our goal is to make Washington County parks a safe and healthy environment for those that utilize them.”

The draft of the ordinance covers a wide range of rules and regulations from swimming and docking to parking and trash. Some of those include: parking will be prohibited by anyone not utilizing the park facilities, no fireworks will be permitted to discharge in the park area, no person will engage in gambling or being intoxicated, no hunting or molesting of wildlife is permissible inside of the park area, and no person will be allowed to dock or anchor at a boat ramp or adjacent areas unless there is an emergency.

A section of the ordinance pertains to Culpepper Landing and the use of the premises for and by commercial vendors being prohibited  unless an agreement with the county is in effect.

The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. in the BOCC meeting room, located at 1331 South Boulevard in Chipley.