Friday, May 16, 2008
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Published Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Council nixes future concerts at Moreland Mill after complaints
The Times-Herald
There will be no more rock concerts at the Moreland Mill.
The Moreland Town Council voted Tuesday night to retain the security deposit of a group that has held a series of concerts in the historic building that includes a meeting facility, a local history museum and the town offices. After the most recent concert on April 18, there were complaints involving alcohol, tobacco, profanity and unsupervised young people.
Deborah Smith, who operates the Images art gallery adjacent to the mill, talked with the council about problems relating to the April 18 gathering. The council also received a letter from David Brackman, pastor of Moreland United Methodist Church, expressing concerns about "activities incompatible with the policies of our church" and "the fact that our property was abused."
Christopher Thomas, who helped organize the concerts, told the council the concerts have been advertised as alcohol- and drug-free events. He said that alcohol and drugs were confiscated if seen and turned over to law enforcement.
Thomas also said off duty police officers -- including some in uniform -- have provided security for the events.
Thomas said the concerts were earlier held at the A&O Bridges Center in Sharpsburg but moved to Moreland because the space is larger. "We have a good track record at keeping the place clean," he said.
Efforts were made "to keep everything in the building" and to be done by 11 p.m." with adult staff remaining to clean the building and area, Thomas said. "We clean all around the building -- the parking lot."
Thomas said his group has rented the mill four or five times.
Smith said Images offers gallery space and art classes for adults and children "in a variety of mediums. She said people love the downtown's quaint atmosphere and often stop at Images if a door is open.
"People just enjoy the quaint, Mayberry atmosphere," she said.
She said that the evening of the concert, she came to downtown Moreland and observed young people -- middle school and high school age -- on the streets. Some were drinking alcohol, and others were smoking.
"A lot of kids were dropped off by parents. As soon as the parents rounded the corner, they hopped in a car and took off," Smith said. "They were in the park. They were in the street. They were everywhere."
Smith had her children with her but would not let them go to the city park because of "the foul language, obscene gestures and lewd behavior."
Smith said some skateboarding was taking place at the gallery, in the church parking lot and at the Erskine Caldwell Birthplace and Museum. "I believe children need to have a good time with their friends," Smith said, but a bench at the gallery was broken and she and her children collected a five-gallon bucket of alcohol containers and cigarette butts.
The concert took place the day before the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society's Tour of Homes, which was centered in Moreland this year. "A considerable amount of garbage was left on our property; but, fortunately, our Boy Scout Troop 48 was able to collect it and properly dispose of it before the Tour of Homes on Saturday morning," Brackman wrote.
"I would prefer that they not be here," Smith told the council. "They damaged property at my place."
Councilmen Myron McLain and Jeff Burgess said they had received multiple complaints about the April 18 events. "We do not need these issues in the town," Burgess said.
After the vote, City Attorney Mark Mitchell said there is some question whether Thomas' group met the city's criteria for use of the mill. He said it might be necessary to rework the form used by the city in renting the mill to preclude something similar occurring in the future.