Monroe, Tuesday — The Monroe City Council voted unanimously to temporarily legalize roller skating and skateboarding in the downtown area, pending the creation of a new ordinance.
In recent weeks, several individuals were cited for skateboarding downtown. However, courts dismissed these citations because the existing ordinance lacked penalties, allowing offenders to skate without consequence.
Following a recommendation from Senior Staff Attorney Terry Sholar, the council repealed the current ordinance altogether. Town staff will now draft a new ordinance that includes penalties for violations. This draft will be presented to the council for approval at a future meeting.
Council Member Franco McGee expressed support for accommodating skaters safely. He suggested the town explore options such as building a skate park or designating specific skate lanes.
“I don’t want us to be seen as the bad guys trying to keep skaters out of our downtown,” McGee said. “Skating here is inevitable, so what steps can we take to make it safer for them?”
Mayor Robert Burns and Council Member Surluta Anthony agreed with McGee’s approach. Mayor Burns asked, “What are we going to do in return for skaters if we pass a new ordinance with penalties?”
Anthony added, “We should consider creating a skate park somewhere. That’s definitely worth thinking about.”
The council’s decision marks a temporary shift while the community awaits clearer rules and safer options for skaters downtown.