Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker went along to bat for the owners of UpDown Indoor Trampoline Park while in the days before they submitted a federal lawsuit saying their civil rights had been violated by not allowing it to reopen.

The city on Friday filed a motion to dismiss the personal injury. In the motion, the hub states it has the authority to act to the governor's orders to maintain the business closed.

Mayor Barker: Hattiesburg barbershops, salons, gyms can easily reopen

Emails, texts and letters procured through public information request filed by the Hattiesburg American show Barker wanted clarification about Gov. Tate Reeves' arrangement prohibiting indoor and entertainment facilities from opening.

He also explained to the governor that this company would close the celebration section and keep solely the trampoline portion open, making it a gym in lieu of a recreational venue.

In an email old May 21 — your day before the lawsuit ended up being filed — Barker e-mailed Reeves' Chief of Staff Brad White to acquire clarification on the purchase.
"What they want to accomplish is keep the gathering space, laser tag region and arcade closed when opening the trampoline community, " he wrote. "They said this may then classify their facility to be a 'gym. ' They will follow every one of the guidelines that the assert and our city have set for gyms.

"To be honest, it’s a grey area at best. Additional cities have allowed equivalent facilities to open, though Governor Reeves’ executive get … seems to prohibit such. … If the owners can be proposing discontinuing many of the entertainment functions, what guidance on earth do you give me on whether collectively be eligible to start the trampoline space, classifying itself now being a gym? "
The response on the governor's office determined the company should remain closed.
"Your reading of (the executive order) is correct because indoor places of theme and recreation remain made, " said Joseph Sclafani, a attorney with Reeves' business. "Based on your account below, UpDown Trampoline Park plainly falls within the definition of an inside place of amusement and recreation and should not be permitted to resume operations right now. "

The trampoline park has been open despite the governor's orders and numerous citations out of Hattiesburg police and fire departments.
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