Recreation
Commission cuts costs
The Emporia Recreation Commission voted on several cost-cutting measures at its meeting on Monday, cutting hours and rearranging operations in an effort to save money.
Included in the cuts will be changes at the Lee Beran Recreation Center for a savings of more $17,000. Some of these changes include reduced hours of operation, cutting staff time as well as a part-time employee, conserving energy by turning off lights and other electronics when not in use and saving on postage and office supplies by using paperless reports and promotional materials.
The commission also voted to stop running the wading pool at Peter Pan Park — a savings of $8,500 — and to change the aquatic schedule at the recreation center by combining classes and changing its Sunday hours for a savings of $9,700.
Items that were tabled until next month’s meeting were changes to sports programs, including renegotiating the contract between the recreation center and the tennis instructor, having parents help coach T-ball, adding traveling basketball and raising adult softball league fees.
Also tabled were proposed changes to the commission’s maintenance responsibilities. Recommendations included ceasing to mow and maintain the Soden’s Grove baseball diamonds, a $20,000 cost savings, and outside the ball diamonds at Whittier Park.