The Cookeville City Council moved at a quick pace through their pre-holiday meeting agenda Thursday, although a resolution to prohibit handguns in parks led to several citizen remarks.

This was the first opportunity for the council to hear the hand gun issue and concerns from the public.

Councilman Ricky Shelton said "I think we should table action on this until the August 6th meeting to give us time to review it and hear public comments."

The state law allowing those with a carry permit to carry a gun in a park has an option for individual governments, such as city and county governing bodies, to make a local law that overrides the state law.

In the law passed by the State Legislature, anyone holding a carry permit may do so in public municipal parks, natural areas, historic parks, nature trails, campgrounds, forests, greenways, waterways or other similar public places.

The resolution introduced to the council would be basically an override to the state law and prohibit anyone from carrying a gun in any of the listed places.

Some spoke out in favor of the resolution while there were those on the opposite side of the issue.

Max Atnip said "it is the unknown that keeps some people from carrying out illegal acts if they don't know who has a gun or not.

It deters someone from doing something harmful if they don't know if you have a gun or not."

One gentleman stated, "The status quo has been good so why not stick with a good thing."

The council is encouraging anyone wanting to comment on the issue to call a council member.

Council person Alma Anderson said, "This is an issue that we need comment from the public. Believe me, getting the calls about these types of issues is important."

The council will continue to solicit opinions from the public and the topic will be on the agenda for consideration again at the first August meeting.

Other business went quickly including agreeing to plant trees along West Cemetery Road to buffer the residents from the traffic noise of the project.

Also, the council approved that the City Manager acquire the property necessary for the new West Cemetery Road extension.

The extension will be a three lane road with a sidewalk on the side of the road toward the new Prescott School to be built in the area.

Cathy Andrews presented information for the council to consider allowing the City Manager to acquire the necessary property for the Tennessee Central Heritage Trail Project.

The property would be to follow the railway from the Cookeville Depot to Monterey.

The council voted to appoint City Attorney Dan Rader to a new two year term.

David Ledbetter was appointed to another two year term as the City Judge.

Joy Buck Gothard will serve as the fill in judge in the event Ledbetter is unavailable.