Drones to be prohibited over U.S. Women’s Open
With the date of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament nearing, the Shelby County Commission approved an extra step of security at its first meeting in May.
The commission voted on May 14 to approve a resolution prohibiting drones from being flown in the vicinity of the Shoal Creek golf course during the time of the tournament.
According to the resolution, which was unanimously approved by the commission, any “unmanned aerial aircraft, unmanned aerial air system, model aircraft or any aerial aircraft that is operated without the possibility of human intervention directly within the aircraft” without direct and written permission from the United States Golf Association is prohibited within a 2-mile radius and within 300 feet of the ground at 100 New Williamsburg Drive, Shoal Creek.
The dates of this “no drone zone” are from May 28 through June 3.
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego said this restriction was requested as a security precaution during the golf tournament, which will bring in golfers from around the globe and is expected to be a very large event.
“We’ve got 156 golfers from 35 different countries coming into Shelby County, so we are all hands on deck at the Sheriff’s Office providing the security there, and we thank the commission for the help they’ve given us,” Samaniego said.
The commission also heard updates regarding road work that is planned throughout the county. County Engineer Randy Cole started off by saying he had good news and bad news regarding paving in the county. The company set to complete the paving projects for this fiscal year will not start work for another month, Cole said, which was the bad news.
The good news, however, was the reason for the delay, he said. The same company is completing the paving work along I-65, and while that’s not a county project, “we’ll all directly benefit from that,” Cole said, which was the good news.
Cole also announced a project that the city of Chelsea is planning. The railroad crossing at Shelby County 377 near Shelby County 11 is set to be closed down at some point this summer, Cole said, which will eliminate a dangerous cut through. That area is under the city of Chelsea’s jurisdiction, so they will be handling the project, he said.
“That is a giant safety improvement. … I want to publically commend the mayor and the council for taking that step that is going to significantly improve the safety out there,” Cole said.
In 2006, Sterrett resident Hannah Yeager, 15, was killed at that intersection after a train collided with the SUV she was in. Five other students were injured in the accident.
Also at the meeting, the commission:
- Heard from three candidates who will be on the June 5 ballot, including Stella Tipton for probate judge, Lewis Brooks for Shelby County Schools superintendent and David Warren for Shelby County coroner.
- Approved the minutes from the April 23 commission meeting, as well as bills, requisitions, check register - government funds and proprietary funds.
- Awarded bids for water service and highway materials.
- Proclaimed National Stepping Up Day, a nationwide initiative which addresses the prevalence of people who have mental illness in jails and recognizes counties who are taking steps to address that issue. A representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness was present at the meeting and thanked the commission and the sheriff’s office for their work in addressing mental illness within the county, as well as preparing law enforcement officers and first responders through Crisis Intervention Training.
- Discussed other tourism events, including the upcoming Regions Tradition. County Manager Alex Dudchock said he encouraged individuals to keep an eye on digital signs which will direct to the appropriate parking locations. The area that has been used for parking in the past is now under construction for the Tattersall Park commercial development.