(The Pierce County Recreation Board discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly meeting Tuesday, July 1.)
New Rec Desk recreation app: Recreation Director Maureen Brown announced the new Rec Desk app is now up and running. (See related story).
New recreation complex: Recreation board chairman Chris Wright said he hopes to have a new, revised cost estimate for the new recreation complex on County Farm Road and renovations and improvements at Ware Street/Yeomans Street in time for the August meeting. Board members have previously agreed the estimate is needed to help with planning and financing for the new facilities.
Lights for Tiger Field: Recreation director Brown said installation of new lighting is underway at Tiger Field and will be in place for football season in the fall. The lighting is part of overall improvements set for Tiger Field as part of a $343,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Matching Grant the county received. The county will have to match the grant.
Recreation policy revisions: The board tabled revisions to recreation policies. Chairman Wright said revisions to the policies have not been completed.
Director’s report: Recreation Director Maureen Brown gave a wrap of baseball/softball season. Nine teams participated in district and state finals. The 14U girls softball was the only local team to win the district championship and they tied for fifth in the state. Brown announced the recreation department will host the district golf tournament at Lakeview this week. The state swim meet and district tennis match will also be held this week and Pierce will have teams competing in all three sports. Brown also announced the recreation department would start co-ed softball beginning Aug. 11. Registration is underway now. She also recommended and the board agreed to set a $25 fee for travel teams to rent the recreation facilities for 90 minute blocks. Travel teams would also pay an additional $25 for lights at the fields. Brown informed board members about a robot painter that will paint lines and logos on football, softball and soccer fields. The system is available for lease at an approximate cost of $9,700. The robot painter works automatically and frees up “human” personnel to handle other tasks. Brown said she would like for board members to consider leasing the robot painter “down the road”. She also noted new handicap parking is available at Ware Street’s facilities. The director announced accounting is still going on from Freedom Fest held last month at Mossy Pond in Offerman. Board member Brad Arington hosts the event and donates a portion of proceeds to the recreation department. Brown also announced a donation from Walker-Jones and announced plans for a test drive event where the department receives a donation for each Pierce Countian who test drives a vehicle at the auto dealership.
Next meeting: The next monthly meeting will be held at 8 a.m. Tuesday, August 5, at the Southeast Georgia Regional Agriculture Center (SEGARAC) on College Avenue.
