Goose Creek Recreation

Commission Meeting

Minutes Summary

February 9, 2009

 

PRESENT:

 

·        Commission: Edwin Hiott, Jerry Glass, Nancy Trevino, Milton Terre, Tom Lindsay & Pam Banks

 

  • Staff: Gary Stuber & Carrie Stika

 

  • Guest: Steve Handley, Ed Chamberlain, and Harvey Morris

 

CALL TO ORDER:

Mr. Glass called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

No comments or questions were presented to the Commission from the public.

 

OLD BUSINESS MINUTES:

The minutes of the January 12, 2009 meeting were approved.

 

FINANCIAL REPORTS:

Due to the City adding a new software program there was no financial reports in the Commission packets to approve. 

 

Mr. Stuber did hand out a budget status report so that everyone had something to look at financially.

 

PROJECT STATUS REPORT:

 

Vacant seat on the Commission:

Mr. Stuber informed the Commission that there was an ad placed in the newspaper for the vacancy on the Commission. 

 

Mr. Stuber told the Commission that Mr. Robert Call from County Council has appointed Mrs. Pamela Banks for the Commission.  Mr. Stuber received three applicants and will send them to Mr. Robert Call for any future openings on the Commission.

 

Unsupervised Children:

Mr. Stuber asked the Commission to look at the policy that was presented to them in their packets about having unsupervised children in the building.

 

Mr. Terre asked why there is an age difference for the policy.  Mr. Stuber responded that there needs to be a set age where the parents have to be with them at all times in the buildings and an age where the children just have a parent in the building.  Mr. Stuber said he will clean up the wording on the policy to help make it more understandable.

 

Mr. Glass had a concern on how this policy will be policed.  Mr. Stuber stated that this is a work in progress and his staff will do their best to police the youngsters and if they get out of hand their parents will be called.

 

Mr. Stuber said he and his staff will look at the policy and try to revise it so that it is clear and have a policy for consequences.

 

Audit:

Mr. Stuber asked the Commission to approve the audit that was passed out at the last meeting.

 

Mr. Glass stated that in paragraph two of the audit it states that “The popularity of the facility leads one to believe we should continue to add on to this facility.”  Mr. Glass asked that this statement be used for those that have an interest and that can help move the process of the master plan.

 

Mrs. Trevino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Terre, to approve the 2007 audit with a positive fund balance. All in favor, motion carried.

 

Mr. Glass asked Mr. Stuber to provide the audit group with a thank you and well done for all their years of service.

 

All Stars:

Mr. Stuber informed the Commission that a coaches meeting was held on Saturday February 7th to get some feedback on their opinions regarding all stars.  There were two important questions that he was trying to get answered.             1) Do we continue to franchise with an organization and have all stars?

2) Which organization do we franchise with?

 

Mr. Stuber reported that he received good input from the coaches and they still want to have all stars and be affiliated with either Little League or Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth.

 

Mr. Stuber spoke with the staff and they have a new recommended that we have all stars and participate with the same franchise as last year.  Also the staff recommends that we have monthly meetings to educate the coaches regarding Cal Ripkin baseball so that we can make an educated decision before the season starts next year.

 

Mr. Glass responded that the Commission and staff need to have good feel of the differences of the different franchises to make a team that is successful.  Mr. Stuber responded that St. Andrew’s and City of Mt. Pleasant are both with Cal Ripken and that this franchise is not as restricted as Little League.

 

Mr. Hiott stated that he believes that if the teams go with Cal Ripken that this will be a good way to persuade the travel ball players to return to recreation ball. 

 

Mrs. Trevino asked does the Cal Ripken franchise have territories.  Mr. Stuber answered that the staff would have to draw the territory.  Mrs. Trevino asked if information could be provided to the Commission on the different franchises.

 

Mr. Stuber brought to the Commissions attention that Mrs. Heiselman had an idea to help off set the cost.  She suggested that the parents help compensate the expense if they want their child to play in all stars.  The response so far from the parents is they will be glad to help compensate for the all star expense.

 

RECREATION REPORTS:

 

Maintenance Division:

Mr. Stuber informed the Commission that the light poles are being replaced at the Casey Center with metal poles.  Santee Cooper has come out and drilled the holes to help place these poles in the right areas.

 

 

Recreation Division:

Mr. Stuber informed the Commission that he has been asked to be a part of the planning for the property across from the Casey Center and near the water tower.  He saw a drawing that consisted of a tennis complex and some softball practice fields.  Mr. Stuber expressed his concern that he does not think this is the Mayor’s idea of good use of the property.

 

Mr. Hiott suggested that someone take the Mayor to Florence or Rock Hill to look at other areas for ideas.  Mr. Stuber said that was a good idea but he needed the Commission to address these issues so that he can make suggestions at the planning meetings.

 

Mr. Glass suggested to the Commission that they focus on a target and put together a package for Recreation so that the Commission’s drawings and the City’s drawings can be combined.  Mr. Stuber stated that both drawings are similar.  Mr. Hiott asked if the Commission could get a copy of the City’s drawings and Mr. Stuber answered yes he would get a copy.

 

Property Insurance:

Mr. Stuber presented to the Commission a question about the property insurance on Dogwood Park, Foster Creek Park, the two St. James Parks, and Forest Lawn Park.  The Goose Creek Recreation owns these properties and these properties need to be insured.  Mr. Stuber asked the Commission if they wanted to keep the properties and insure them or deed them to the City and ask them to pay the insurance.

 

Mr. Glass expressed that the Goose Creek Recreation Commission needs to hold onto these properties and pay the insurance on them.  Mr. Stuber stated that he did not have a price yet but he will get one soon and he also budgeted for this so it should not be a big problem.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Mr. Handley commented that he thought the coaches meeting was a great idea and to please continue to keep in touch with them about any changes.  He expressed that it should not matter whether the all star team is strong; the Commission should always support them.

 

Mr. Glass stated that whether an all star team is good or bad they will always have the support of the Commission.

 

Mr. Handley also asked the Commission to look at why the older girls playing softball have to play on the younger girls’ field.

 

Mr. Handley also asked the Commission if they could promote the season more.  He suggested getting a volunteer to take pictures and write articles about the players and putting them in the Goose Creek Gazette.

 

Mr. Morris asked if the Commission will keep Little League all year or will it change during tournament play?  Mr. Stuber answered that the Commission will stay with Little League.

 

Mr. Glass expressed that it is important to have regular meetings with the coaches and parents.  Mr. Glass also suggested that Mr. Stuber let the Commission know if they are needed at any meetings that are being held and someone will be there to represent the Commission.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Terre made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Trevino, to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m. All in favor, motion carried.

 

Next regularly scheduled meeting is set for March 9, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.