Font ResizeUnacceptable behavior: The York County Commissioners made the right decision to go "public" with news that two county parks had become popular trysting places for men.
Last week the commissioners said that, since August, more than 80 men had been arrested on such charges as disorderly conduct, indecent exposure and obscene behavior for engaging in what was described as consensual sex where no money is exchanged at Rocky Ridge and William H. Kain county parks.
County officials and local police conducted undercover investigations, making many arrests. But the commissioners said the trysts continued. So they decided to publicize the arrests, hoping that would get the word out that authorities are actively patrolling.
Let's hope the word does spread. Engaging in sex -- be it heterosexual or homosexual -- in a park frequented by children and families is completely unacceptable.
The only question: Why did the county wait so long? It's been going on since at least August, and here it is November. You'd think the cold weather would put a stop to most of the trysting now. If the alert had been raised in September, or even early October, it might have spared innocent witnesses some unsettling experiences.
Park improvements: Now for some better news about our parks:
A million dollars in federal transportation money intended to be spent
Actually, that's not necessarily good news.
We would have preferred to see the money used to preserve more open space in the stunningly beautiful area that's under great residential development pressure.
But that's not going to happen under the current board of commissioners.
Might as well use that money to make the best of what we have out there now.
Keep work in York: If there are ways to save money at the York County Nursing Home -- without sacrificing care or resident comfort -- then by all means the county commissioners are right to pursue such savings.
The budget, after all, is very tight. And the home is operating at a $3.5 million deficit.
But we share Commissioner Doug Hoke's concerns about a recent 2-1 vote to hire a King of Prussia company at $14,000 to do an assessment of the home with a goal of cutting operating expenses.
Why not hire a local firm and keep that money in our community?
And why should this be necessary? Mr. Hoke says many problems at the home have already been identified. Just deal with them. This suggests a lack of management on the county's part. We pay county managers good money; why should we have to now hire outside managers to do their jobs for them?
