Registration fees for Recreation Dept. activities to rise

It will cost more money for local youth to participate in Grady County Recreation Department activities in 2018.
Grady County commissioners on Tuesday night approved rate increases proposed by Recreation Department Director Becky Bracewell.
According to Bracewell, the last time registration fees were adjusted was 2007.
Mrs. Bracewell is proposing an increase for all activities from $15 to $20 with the exception of football, which will increase from $25 to $30. The recreation director explained that football requires the county to routinely purchase replacement helmets, shoulder pads and mouth pieces as the reasoning for the higher fee for that sport.
Bracewell said that similar sized communities charge anywhere from $25 up to $45 per child to participate.
Grady County Commissioner LaFaye Copeland said her concern was for families with multiple children that may be unable to afford the higher fee.
Bracewell said she addressed every case based on need and commented she never wanted to prevent a child from participating due to not having the money.
She said that she has worked out payment plans for parents. Commissioner Copeland and Chairman Ray Prince volunteered to donate what they could to help if Bracewell was made aware of a need that could not be met.
Commissioner Copeland also questioned what could be done to improve the basketball program sponsored by the recreation department.
Bracewell said that due to the lack of a dedicated facility for basketball her department had to depend on using local school gyms for the program. She said the basketball program was more or less an instructional program rather than league play like the other sports.
Bracewell also reported that in 2017, 1,100 local youth participated in recreation department activities.
In other action Tuesday night, the board:
Heard comments from Betty Godwin concerning Tired Creek Lake expenses; Geraldine Dixon and Buddy Gilum regarding the condition of private drives in south Grady County that are part of a proposed grant program to bring the roads up to Department of Transportation and county standards. The county faces a March 31 deadline to apply for the Community Development Block Grant. According to County Clerk Carrie Croy, the only reason the grant was not awarded in 2017 was due to the lateness of the county’s audit.
Introduced Jennifer Dorminey Herzog, one of the attorneys with Hall Booth Smith who will be serving as the county’s legal representative in 2018.
Approved a motion by Commissioner Copeland to name Commissioner Keith Moye to the Decatur-Grady 911 committee and reappoint 911 Committee Chairman T.D. David. Copeland had been serving on the committee but offered to end her service so that Moye, who had requested to serve, could do so.
Heard concerns shared by Commissioner Copeland, who had been contacted by residents of Upper Hawthorne Trail, about the procedure to lower the speed limit on that road. County Clerk Croy said she would contact Grady County Sheriff Harry Young to determine what could be done.
Heard remarks from Commissioner Moye, who had been contacted about holding both commission meetings at 6 p,m. rather than one at 6 p.m. and the other at 9 a.m. The board took the request under advisement.
Heard a question from Moye concerning the proposed aquatic center. Croy indicated that as of last Thursday consulting engineer Stacy Watkins was waiting on the results of a survey and she said after that information is received a pool committee meeting should be scheduled.
Heard concerns raised by Commissioner June Knight regarding log trucks using Old 179 South as a short cut. According to Knight, the trucks are damaging the road. Vice Chairman T.D. David suggested the board communicate the problem to Sheriff Young.
Requested an update on a survey of courthouse security issues. Grady County Chief Magistrate Pat Pollock said that he had been able to obtain a quote on a system similar to the one used in Thomas County. According to Pollock, that system could be installed here for approximately $8,200. Pollock said ultimately he would have to present his report to see if it was something Sheriff Young approved. “This is all Sheriff Young’s baby. We are just trying to help get information and give it to the sheriff to make sure this is what he wants,” Pollock said.
Commissioner Moye responded to questions that had been raised by defeated commission candidate Richard Jordan on social media.
Accepted a quote not to exceed $7,600 for the rental of an excavator to install prefab box culverts on State Park Road. The county will rent the equipment from Flint Equipment.
Approved payment of $12,115.00 in claims regarding an accident where a county employee was determined at fault and legal action taken by a former employee of the sheriff’s office.
Unanimously reappointed Phillip Corker, Terry Prince and Gary Jones for new four-year terms on the Grady County Planning Commission.
Approved donating 24 repeaters and associated surplus equipment no longer used by Decatur-Grady 911 to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Approved payment of $3,036.25 to Wood & Partners for work the firm did in assistance to William F. Butler on the Tired Creek Lake project.
Authorized Chairman Prince to execute a resolution authorizing the application of a Community Development Block Grant. However, Chairman Prince said he would not sign it until all of the necessary rights-of-way could be obtained by the county.