Imagine an appointed body that likes citizen input, and even puts (some) board packet items on its website before its meetings! Parks and Rec is that body.
With 1.5 mil of our tax dollars every year, it’s good to see the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority (VLPRA) reviewing finances:
At the end of February, the Parks and Rec had $2.69 million in cash, $541,000 in liabilities, and that leaves about $2.1 million….
For the eight months ending February 29, tax receipts $3.22 million. That’s $79,000 dollars more tax receipts than for the eight months of the previous year.
So that’s about $4.3 million per year in tax receipts, plus SPLOST money (see the video). The board didn’t have any questions about finance.
At least we can see some results of their money, such as
the 
United States Specialty Sports Association’s (USSSA) Georgia/Florida Showdown that started two days later, and the Dizzy Dean tournaments they discussed in the board meeting: that’s a lot of hotel nights and restaurant meals and other local business. They’ve even been trying to coordinate with the Lowndes School System about a band fundraiser. VLPRA supplied a written report to the Valdosta City Council and to the Lowndes County Commission about completed projects; maybe they could put it on their website so we the taxpayers could see it.
They talked about trying to get signs put on I-75 pointing at VLPRA parks. Might I suggest also fixing the VLPRA web page about their parks? It’s currently welded too wide, so you have to scroll horizontally to see anything.
They did put their writeups on rental rates on their website before the meeting, so we probably know what they voted to approve. They promised to put the new rates on their website.
Regarding turnout for the four Master Plan citizen meetings in April:
It could have been better. We had about 9 or 10 at Mildred Hunter, 10 at Naylor. We had about 25 at Hahira. …It was kind of slim at South Lowndes.
They were written up once in advance in the VDT, but they weren’t listed on VLPRA’s own website. Apparently there were also some partners meetings (not sure what they were).
Still, as board member JC Cunningham said,
It was so good to see the citizens be involved, and talk, and speak. It was really good; it made me proud.
Executive Director George Page agreed:
I felt we had some good input.
They also sent out 2500 surveys in the mail. And they’re painting up a Showmobile that says VLPRA on it so they can be visible in the community.
Hm, maybe these battery-powered LED scoreboards could have solar panels to charge the batteries.
Here are links to some materials they were considering in that 19 April 2012 board meeting. Maybe they’ll get around to putting agendas and minutes on their website, which says their next board meeting is 4:30 P.M. Thursday 17 May 2012 at their office, 1901 N. Forrest Street, Valdosta, GA.
Here’s a video playlist:
Finance, Facilities, and Projects
Regular Session, Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 19 April 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
-jsq
Short Link:
I would like more information on the “partners meetings” beginning with why these meetings are not announced as public meetings. The video link lists partners as The Boys & Girls Club and The YMCA. There is a long history of both of these private organizations being mixed into the Valdosta/Lowndes parks & recreation government operations including past competitions between these private sector elements. One of the main reasons Public/Private Partnerships are not in the citizen’s best interests is the fact the private entities are used to evade government transparency responsibilities. If the VLPRA is going to consider themselves partners with any private organization then the public has a right to know what is being discussed & what future plans are being considered. Those of us who are aware of past conflicts with partial privatizations of parks & recreation have a right to know that safeguards are enacted to prevent a return to situations that were not always in the best interest of the citizens and/or created sweetheart deals for private entities. Any private organization who claims to be non-profit should have to submit to an independent audit and also account for how for profit revenues relate to non-profit claims. When any organization that claims non-profit status in order to receive tax credits, grant monies, and United Way funds can have a million dollar plus extortion operation siphoning off revenues at the same time something is not right. Local taxpayers have a right to know that full disclosure and auditing methods are being employed to prevent any repeat situations before partnering is allowed.