Updated with audio 7-10-19 9:52 p.m.
VINEMONT, Ala. – Emotions ran high Tuesday evening at the South Vinemont Town Council meeting as community members debated recent allegations regarding a teen driving a golf cart on the streets and on the town’s walking trails. The family of the teen questioned Mayor Raginald Dodson’s alleged interactions with the young driver, while other community members defended their written complaints regarding the teen.
Sherrill Street resident Leann Evans addressed the council about her son and his use of the golf cart, alleging, “On June 25, my son, a 15-year-old boy, was on a golf cart driving from our street over towards the Boy Scout (community) building and this is the third time this had happened. At the time, I didn’t really realize it was the mayor that was doing this until it was brought to my attention. Mr. Dodson proceeds to get into his truck, chases him in his truck (my son’s on a golf cart) back up through and down Federer Street, yelling at him to pull over. My son pulls over. He (Dodson) gets out of the truck and yells at my son to the extent where three hired lawncare men had to come over and get him off of my son. My son gets back on the golf cart. He (Dodson) wants to know his name and where he lives. My son, not knowing who he is, would not give him that information, thank goodness. He drives down to the end of Federer and heads back up towards the laundromat and he proceeds to follow him there and tells him that he’s got a full tank of gas and he can do that all day long. My son is able to get away, comes back down the hill and turns on Federer; there’s a little pull through. The lawn mower men direct him in there and when he (Dodson) finally gets further enough up the street, the lawn mower tell him he can go now.”
She continued, “He then proceeds to come home and he comes in and tells us. I proceed to go at that time to Mr. Dodson’s house. I pull up to the end of his street. I do not go onto his property. He invites me onto his property. I go up. I confront him. He denied no allegations. A comment that he made is that ‘he’s the mayor, he can do whatever he wants.’ His complaint is that the golf carts should not be on or in the park there at the Boy Scout (building). The signs that are posted are skateboards, roller blades, bicycles and ATVs. A golf cart is not an all-terrain vehicle. He said he had plenty of money and would have those signs changed.
“He is an official to represent the community. We are not here to serve him. I told him straight forth I was coming here first to let the whole town know first. What I should have done is contacted law enforcement for how he attacked my son, chasing him in a vehicle. I hope you will take this into advisement.”
Town Attorney Roy Williams responded on behalf of the Town, saying, “I am not going to respond to your statements as to what the mayor said. I wasn’t there. I am going to respond to what the rules are and the laws are in this town. A golf cart is illegal to be on the city street. State law says they can’t drive it, but he’s doing that, apparently with your permission. Secondly, the mayor has the obligation to enforce the ordinances of the Town of South Vinemont. In the past five weeks, the mayor has gotten several verbal complaints about your son nearly running over them in the park and two written complaints. That’s the reason he’s been policing the park. That’s his job.”
Williams went on to explain the Town’s ordinance, passed Feb. 3, 2013, specifically addresses the use of motor-driven vehicles in certain public areas within the town of South Vinemont. The ordinance applies to the walking trails and other town properties.
Evans argued that a golf cart is not a motorized vehicle and that any complaints made against her son were simply “hearsay.”
Williams explained, “Your son, according to you, was talked to three times,” with Evans interrupting, “No, no, no, no! He was not talked to, he was harassed. That’s my interpretation. I spoke with him. He harassed me!”
Williams asked, “You weren’t with your son the three times he was harassed. I will use your word, ‘hearsay.’ But you personally weren’t there? Once your son was told not to drive it in the park, every time he did that after that, that is a criminal offense.”
Evans was presented a copy of the town ordinance and the state law regarding the use of golf carts but maintained her son had done nothing wrong and argued the definition of ATVs.
“He is on notice that if he speaks to my son again that I will file harassment charges!” Evans said of Dodson.
Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Ryan Fortenberry was also in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting to try and explain the laws and ordinances and how or who can enforce them.
He explained, “We understand ATVs and most of the time the sheriff’s office does not get involved; we use discretion. When we start to receive complaints in an area, any dirt bike, golf cart, it doesn’t matter who the driver is, you are subject to get ticketed and the vehicle to be towed and you are driving an illegal vehicle in the roadway.”
Fortenberry explained that the mayor of any town has the right to identify a person who is trespassing or breaking ordinances of that town.
Evans said, “He (her son) did nothing malicious to anyone. There was no one in that park.”
Resident Brenda Shellhouse spoke up, saying, “Excuse me; I was the one he almost ran over, looking at his phone driving around there at 25 miles an hour on the trail. We had to shout at him to get his attention to keep him from running over us.”
The area in question is not technically a park. The walking trails in South Vinemont were created to give walkers and runners a place to exercise, but were not intended to be a multi-use park. The area is for foot traffic.
Williams said, “When they get the complaints, they address it. They try to leave people alone and let people live their lives. When a child, your son, is complained about, then they do it. One of the reasons that he was trying to get ahold of your son was your son took a sign. It’s laying right out there.”
Evans protested, “He was bringing it up here! He was bringing it up here!”
Williams replied, “Well, he was going toward your house with it.”
The town council voted to go into an executive session after the argument ceased to discuss the situation and the role Dodson played. After approximately 15 minutes, the council reconvened and the meeting was adjourned.
Evans promised to be at the next town council meeting scheduled for Aug. 13 at 6 p.m., saying, “I will hold that man accountable. I will hold you five accountable because if Mr. Dodson thinks a 15-year-old boy cutting through in a park on a week’s basis… I didn’t see you walking this week! I’m just letting you know I am concerned that our elected official is conducting himself in a violent attacking manner. I am an educator. If I spoke to a kid the way he did in my profession, I would be brought before the board. I am bringing him before the board.”
Williams explained to Evans, “If you see an ordinance that you think needs to be changed, then you can write the council and ask them to consider changing the ordinance, but breaking the ordinance is not the way to handle it.”
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