Rec football participation sets record
Originally published 02:45 p.m., September 18, 2007
Updated 02:46 p.m., September 18, 2007
Participation in the Emporia Recreation Commission’s tackle and flag football programs has reached an all-time high, commissioners learned at Monday’s meeting.
And youth volleyball for fourth through sixth grades is getting a boost from a couple of former players from Coffeyville Community College.
The commission also discussed getting architectural ideas on upgrading its locker rooms and main office area; decided to seek assistance from Piper Jaffrey & Co. on co-financing improvements to the indoor pool’s air-handling unit with the city of Emporia; and is studying ways to create a facilities committee to help guide commissioners, because more building projects are likely to arise in coming years.
During this month’s study session, just two action items were voted on — one on the center’s sexual abuse policy and the other on a cell phone reimbursement program. It’s next action meeting is set for Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Emporians are likely to see several increases in program and activity fees in 2008. Commissioners each received a 50-page notebook of recommended changes to help pay for two years of increased minimum wages for hourly employees.
Director Tom McEvoy said one likely change is an increase of up to $6 for 13-15 year-old baseball players. The hike also would help pay for umpire costs and insurance fees for each player.
“The increases are only tied to paid personnel,” McEvoy said. “We’re always trying to keep fees as low as possible.”
The Jones Aquatic Center became the meeting’s central focus on two levels — participation was down in 2007 and the city and commission are once again trying to iron out an agreement on shared expenses.
A final report on the aquatic center’s season isn’t due for a couple of months, but McEvoy said total revenue was up and operating expenses were lower than last year. He said, though, that the pool might end up in the red for the year.
Commissioner Jennifer Bennett asked whether pool rentals were down and McEvoy said they were. She then asked if the cost of the pool rental, which is set by the city and is $200 an hour for a minimum of two hours, could be lowered to attract more swim parties. She also suggested the starting time for parties — 8 p.m. — might be too late.
“We’ve made money from pool rentals before,” Bennett said. “With a lower price I think we could get more participants.”
Commissioners also received a draft of a proposed agreement between the rec center and the city of Emporia. The last attempt at an agreement on shared costs happened two years ago and in three tries the two groups haven’t reached accord.
McEvoy, though, was optimistic that the current proposal could be finalized.
“We looking for partial compensation (from the city) for full-time staff’s employment taxes,” he said, adding the recreation center also is picking up the tab for liability insurance for the pool’s big slide.
“It’s covered as a structure but we need double liability on it, too, for employees,” he said.