RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES
May 27, 2015
Gallops Senior Center
12:00 noon
Members Present: Carl Brown, Irene Pate, Derrick Greene
Members Absent: Tracy Belt, Bob Johnson, Vanessa Jackson, Willie Dickerson,
Mike Peacock, Andre Dye
City Staff Present: James Worsley, Holli Browder, Tommy Groce, Shelley
Tippins,
Millie Del Toro, Teresa Snellings, Sofia White
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Irene Pate at 12:10pm
Sofia White was introduced as the Employment Coordinator for the Parks and
Recreation Department and she gave the board a brief introduction as to her
tenure with the Columbus Consolidated Government.
Roll was taken.
The Board did not have a quorum at the meeting therefore the minutes of the
previous
meetings could not be approved.
Director/Staff Update
Tommy Groce: (Park Services Division Manager): The 28 lawn mowers were not
approved in the Councilor?s budget meeting on Tuesday night. Tommy stated that
it will be a struggle to maintain the fields at the level that is expected.
The crew that currently has mowers will take care of what they should if spare
time permits, they will loan them out to cut other fields. Work will get done
in a timely manner. James gave the board an update that security cameras were
not approved as well. The department was instructed to apply for a Crime
Prevention grant in hopes of getting the security cameras. In the past the
department made cuts in personnel but we had equipment. Now we have no
equipment.
Millie Del-Toro: (Community Schools Supervisor): Summer camps started May 26th
and they run through July 31st. The camps are located at Tillis, Psalmond
Road, Shirley Winston and 29th Street.
Shelley Stephens: (Community Schools Supervisor): Notified the board that she
would be attending the ASPYN Conference in Texas in hopes of adding academics
to the program.
Teresa Snellings: (Recreation Services Division Manager): Teresa informed the
board that the department was working with the Urban League to bring back the
Summer Block Parties. The Block Parties dates are June 11th at Frank Chester
Recreation Center, June 18th at Boxwood, June 25th at Fluellen, July 9th at
Carver Park and July 16th at 29th Street. The board was also informed that
Amerigroup had contacted the department to schedule a Back to School Backpack
give away as they did last summer.
Holli Browder: (Assistant Director): Holli stated that the department was
currently operating the Columbus Aquatics Center. Things are going well.
Programs are being scheduled. Drive-in movies to be added at the end of each
month and she is trying to get a music service contract to pay music for the
older crowd. Outdoor pools are going through renovations. Double Churches
Pool and Shirley Winston Pool is cleared to open and she believes that Rigdon
Road is being cleared as she speaks. The 3 leisure pools got a face lift
inside and outside and they should be more cost efficient. Seasonal, family
and individual passes are available to purchase. Prices are on the website.
Swim lessons are available. Holli has notice that more citizens are visiting
the Columbus Aquatics Center. The Columbus Sports Council has asked about the
possibility of bringing meets here to Columbus. Holli stated that because we
are very far away that many organizations are reluctant to bring tournaments
here.
James Worsley: (Director): James invited the board to attend the South Lumpkin
Road Linear Park Ground breaking ceremony on Friday, June 05, 2015 at 10:00
am. The trail is located next to Eagle Trace apartments. The 2 mile trail
will be a multi- purpose pedestrian and bicycles trail and it will one day link
to current the Fall Line Trail.
Updates from the Board:
Carl Brown: Asked the board for an update on the lawn mowers. He stated many
of the comments that were made in the paper about the cost of the mowers. The
Sports Council thanked the Parks and Recreation Department for going above and
beyond to help them with the transportation at CSU for the soccer event they
hosted over the weekend.
Derrick Greene: Derrick informed the board about the Back to School event
planned for July 19, 2015 at Shirley Winston Recreation Center. He inquired
about the old electronic equipment at South Commons and whether or not the
equipment could be used.
Irene Pate: Britt David Classes are going well for the summer. This year?s
spring sale had a preview on that Friday night and it went well. The sale was
a big success
Our next meeting will be June 24th at Lake Oliver Marina
Meeting 1:02 pm.
Teresa Snellings
Recreation Services Division Manager
Attachments
No attachments for this document.