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GoogleOn Tuesday, Councilman Lee Roy Cunningham called the recreation center a "white elephant" that doesn't pay for itself and said it needs to be run "so it doesn't lose so much money."
Cunningham claimed that the center loses between $30,000 and $80,000 per month and he wants to "get someone else to run it," and take whatever money is saved to invest in an industrial park "so we can get some jobs in here."
Council member Jo Ann Holland said that when organizations from other cities see Shelbyville's recreation center, they wish their communities had such a facility.
"I agree that it's great, but it just costs too much to operate," Cunningham said. "It shouldn't be costing that much."
He asked why, given that there are two private gyms in town operated as for-profit businesses, the recreation center should not break even.
However, council member Kay Rose countered Cunningham's argument, saying that the clubs are "not available to the general public" and that the center is a service the city provides to taxpayers like police and fire protection.
Rose said it was cost effective for many in the community to use the city's facilities who might not be able to afford what the commercial gyms charge. The other option is to raise the prices at the center, Rose said.
Councilman Al Stephenson said that the center lost $66,000 in May.
City manager Ed Craig said that the city has already been looking into methods to save money, but added that the cost ratio is typical for a town Shelbyville's size.
Craig said the center recovers about 25 percent of its expenses, which is not atypical, and can recover anywhere from 25 to 100 percent, depending on how they are operated.
"When you have a recreation center in a place like Germantown, which is a very affluent community, they ... recover 100 percent of its costs," Craig explained. "In rural communities that aren't as affluent and have a different demographic, 25 percent is not unusual."
Craig said that both the views of Cunningham and Rose were valid -- while the center only recovers 25 percent of the costs, the city is also providing services for its citizens by spending money "just like we spend money to provide police services or anything else."
A "thorough analysis" is currently being done of the operating costs related to the recreation center, so that the council can get a detailed explanation of what it costs to run it and what it would take to recover more funding.
However, Craig said that in order to recover more money, the city would have to charge more fees, but that would mean that many in the community would not be able to afford to pay the hiked rates.
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please
How did the rec center suddenly become a "white elephant" overnight??? the rec center was not built last year...it has been around for a while, but now suddenly Good Ole' Boy Cunningham has to sweep in and says get rid of managing it. Why now? If it has been costing so much for so long then why are we just not considering some solution??? I say leave it as it is. They do a good job. Perhaps Lee Roy and his sidekick Al will call for the rec centers bulldozing like all those blighted buildings so he can build the Lee Roy Cunningham Industrial Park...
I agree bedfordcounty08
Maybe Lee Roy should examine the impact the rec center has on crime. It would double if there was no rec center. Like other cities have experienced, the rec center gives people a chance to do something else. This isn't simply an issue about losing money, it's a quality of life program for the community.
I LOVE the Rec Center. In fact, I'm always there at least two or three times a week. It would be a SHAME to see it close. While we may have for profit gyms in town, that's the only place you can swim in town. The kids and adults don't have much to do in this town anyway. Let's not take away what they do have.
This just goes to show you what kind of backward redneck hillbilly that Leroy Cunningham actually is.
While it may be possible for the rec center to recoup a greater percentage of costs (fundraisers maybe?), the value to the community is far greater than what can be measured by a bottom line. It is the only place in town where one could train for a triathalon, get swimming lessons, shoot hoops, and lift weights all under one roof. It serves young and old, rich and poor, athletic and deconditioned, and all populations in between.
Having been involved with several city and university rec centers as well as for profit gyms, my experience leads me to believe that city rec centers generally have a more knowledgeable and more educated staff. It has been my experience that gyms generally hire 'gym rats' while city run rec centers generally prefer an educated, degreed professional who also tends to be more service oriented.
Shelbyville has a wonderful facility that with a little more city suppport to provide a few upgrades could compete nicely with any local gym or even any YMCA type thing out there.
Why not add another $10 or $15 onto our electric bill? That would take care of it.
Lee Roy Cunningham is a fool but he has been for a long time. If it's costing too much to operate, then raise the fees for those who pay to use the Center. Maybe they should have thought about this before spending a ton of money to build a skateboard area that no one has to pay to use and the freesby golf area that no one has to use. These things have to be maintained, so why not charge fees like they do for the pools. Why not charge fees for the tennis courts or hand ball courts? Right now, you only have to pay a signup fee for a card if you are going to use the pool or any indoor area? Why not make those using other areas of the park pay for member cards as well?
I am an avid visitor of the Rec Center. I think that it a pity that suddenly this facility has become a "White Elephant". This place is awesome for the people that cannot afford to visit the privately owned gyms in town. The Rec center serves the entire community, all age groups. I am all for having a fund raiser to benefit them. After all, my boys love to swim there, so I am willing to be involved with helping them to get "The Good Ole Boys" off of their back!!
Gottago,
You said "with a little more city support to provide a few upgrades could compete nicely with any local gym or even any YMCA type thing out there"..... Well Yea. If you put enough of someone else's money into anything you can have as nice a facility as anyone.
The point here is that private ownership or management would be more concerned about regulating cost where the city really doesn't care.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with the rec center or the park. The city needs to have places like this when no private facility is available. I don't think Shelbyville is a big enough market to attract a YMCA, but if it was I would be the first in line to say the city should not be poring tax money into a facility to compete with private business. Yes, poor kids could go to the YMCA too, they are not limited to city owned facilities.
As for Lee Roy Cunningham and his running buddy Al Stephenson, they are a few eggs shy of a dozen but at least they understand the relationship between city run facilities and the amount of tax revenue available. The city needs to live within it's means without raising taxes right now.
They didn't hesitate to spend thousands on trees around the square or various other situations of frivolous spending so why complain about spending money on something that is actually beneficial to the whole community like the recreation center.
Also, Shelbyville is not too small for a YMCA because the YMCA runs a place in Sparta, TN and it is smaller than Shelbyville.
http://www.ymca.net/maps/profile.aspx?as...
I pay an annual membership to the rec. center and use it when I can. If they are losing money then we need to look at where and why they are losing money not start screaming raise dues. Maybe they have to much staff or staff not doing there job. Hmm or maybe city employees getting cut or free rates to use the rec. center.
Why does our so called leaders always want to raise rates on us hard working people, maybe they should take it out of their pocket first and set an example lol.
Why do we need an idustrial park we cant keep companies here now, use some of the vacant builds or land.
Poorme,
I think I was rather unclear on 'city support'. Please note that I mentioned fundraisers. Many other city-run facilities do fundraisers for new equipment or programming and rely heavily on volunteers and donations (especially from businesses- free exposure) Revenue can be generated any number of ways and can be done without any additional tax payer money.
Also I never implied that Shelbyville needs a YMCA. My point was is that with a little TLC the center could easily compete with a branded non-profit city such as the Y or any for profit big box gym.
Johnnyreb,
Even with a small user fee increase, the center is still the best deal around.
the reck center and parks are all wonderful for all of shelbyville young and old who have little money to spend after buying food. We do need these very badly. Wedo need a new lower paid manager maybe a senior to run this. WE also need all of the city audited. We need a city manager to stop looking on spending money but, on how to cut cost and saving money for the city. Then he will be doing the job for the city that he should be. any one can spend money but few can manage and save money. This goes for every one in the city. Bring jobs into Shelbyville and this will take care of most problems. If you all were working on this we would have jobs that Shelbyville don't have. GO TO WORK FOR US AND STOP SPENDING MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE. Shelbyville has a very high UNMPLOYMENT RATE
I really don't see how the rec center is standing in the way of Lee Roy's industrial park. The rec center is not the problem and isn't causing an industrial park not to be built. I agree with someone else's point on here that we should examine the other buildings that aren't being used. Even if we built a glorious industrial park, it wouldn't mean the companies would come. We have to start thinking creatively here if we want to create jobs. We can't just shut down the rec center, build an industrial park and everything will be fine
My back yard is the park. I watch daily and nightly the amount of traffic that come through. I see children of all ages and races enjoying all aspects of the park.
While playing tennis last night I observed teens playing tennis on the other court. Two very large families playing volleyball. The walking trail was full and yes even Steve Lovvorn was there with yet another softball something or another.
Way too many people in the community enjoy the park. It is a park. It should not cost to let your child play on the play ground. There needs to be FREE places that kids can hang out and feel safe.
Go find something else to gripe about and leave the park be.
I just moved her from out of state and the first thing that I noticed about Shelbyville is that there are hardly any sidewalks. I am an avid walker and an owner of a 76 lb dog that was used to her daily walk. If a person walks around here, you are taking your life in your own hands, not only because of the cars, but also because of so many loose dogs. I have been to the Rec Ctr a few times and enjoy the safety of the walking track and the friendliness of the people I meet there. Surely with all the vacant property, with empty commercial buildings on them, another place could be selected for an industrial site. Please spare the Rec Ctr, this town really needs a safe place for people to walk and recreate in.
Another thing that the leaders of Shelbyville and Bedford County is taking away and giving to a private company. The hospital first, then the Nusring Home now the Rec Center is costing too much. Maybe if they cut back on Counsel Members everything could run better. When it's sold I hope that the employees do not get the pay cuts that everyone before has.
roniej,
Thank you! After moving to Shelbyville in late '07 (and only staying briefly), I was dismayed by the lack of sidewalks. Couple that with the narrow roads and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
I have always been an avid walker, and was not going to be intimidated by Billy Joe Redneck revving his engine while trying to inch me out of the way.
In my opinion all roads leading to the celebration and the rec center for that matter should have sidewalks. Many communities promote awareness of and value a nice pedestrian network. Shelbyville seemed too busy tending to the needs of the immigrants.
-I don't see anything wrong with the rec center. There are some instructors that we could live without.
If the annual walking rate goes up, I don't know if I could drive to town everyday and pay an extra fee.
I agree the best thing to do is get rid of Mr. Cunningham...
The rec. center is great for old and young and ages inbetween.
The Park is a quality of life issue. I served on the Park board many years ago and we did not recover all cost then. We have approximatly 70% of our children on Free Lunch in the school system but we provide that as we should. The more the park is used the less health problem the sytem has to contend with. I have heard criticism of the Skate Board area but I ask you to go over there and see how many fat kids you see. They are health as a horse. Health should be our concern along with crime prevention etc. We could stop all ball games or at least have them all in the day time. (ever looked at the line item on power consumption for lighted ball fields)I don't advocate that we do away with ball games but look at everything. Leroy doesn't do anything at the park so he sees no value there, he never has. But the plant managers and CEO's of the companies he plans to recuite sure see a facility like this as plus for their employees. Now how many industries has Leroy brought to our city? Leroy is very short sighted when it comes to anything but his own selfinterest. His so called adversaries in this issue are at least looking a little farther than the end of their nose.
The rec center is a great asset to the city. Mr. Cunningham wants to build an industrial park...really? How much will that cost, and how can he be so sure that companies will just flock to Shelbyville? Generally, industries look at demographics, quality of life and other variables when locating to a community. If Shelbyville doesn't meet their criteria, they are not going to locate here regardless of whether or not we have an industrial park.
The rec center, on the other hand, is a valuable asset to the community and serves as a focal point of interest to businesses looking to locate here. Mr. Cunningham has no concept of what makes a town a good place to live.
I am shocked that the Rec Center ever loses money. I figured that it would be in the green every month. W/ what it costs to have a membership and the cost for beverages and such. I am surprised that they do not charge to use the potty. LOL
Before they can come up w/ a solution they need to find out the source of the problem. Down $66K in the month of May, kinda scary.
I am curious to see the numbers for June & July when kids are out of school and swimming a few times during the week.
To be honest I miss the Put Put course. I loved that place. We had to pay but it was worth it. Good times.
My son plays baseball and we have to pay a large amount just to sign up. Does that fee not go into the Park Fund / Bank Account / Rec Center Account?
I do not keep up w/ politics, so I have no clue who these cats are but it seems if they are trying to be like the Sheriff of Nottingham. Tax the poor just to get richer. What do city and county workers pay to use the Rec Center? That is all.....
Why not let Kay Rose run it and then her husband can stand as you come into the park and make sure that no one carries a gun in the park. They seem to want to run it their way. It is sad that they have nothing else to do in their old age but try to have their way. Put them on the school board so they can fix that also!!!!!!!!!
People better wake up and fast, some of the people at city hall think there is no end to the money they spend! Add it up people $10000.00 here $25000.00 there it adds up fast. The rec center is great IF we can AFFORD it but at a loss of $66,000.00 in just one month something has to be done! That is $792000.00 per year LOST in one dept of the city,you may not like what some members say but I bet you dont run your own household loosing money every month!
Thank you! After moving to Shelbyville in late '07 (and only staying briefly), I was dismayed by the lack of sidewalks.
-- Posted by gottago on Fri, Aug 7, 2009, at 5:10 PM
The same city government who didn't have the foresight to put a turning lane on the busiest four lane street (North Main), and you expected sidewalks?!?!?
An Industrial Park is financed completely different from a municipal loan market and has to have companies signed on that shows a positive justification before bonds are approved. So the two concepts are not even on the same street. It seems Leroy wants to create a need to put our local construction businesses to work. Look at Springfield or Oak Ridge and there you will see a REAL concept of industrial park. We have a start on one it is called Stanley and Railroad Ave. Where health contientious workers have to walk in wet grass for thier break walks. Yea, where are the sidewalks? Lets develop anew in the old areas. But the good old boys need to make money off the tax payers to go into thier own construction companies.
The rec center is an asset and one of the few things that make this city look better and will attract people to buy more (what should be)expensive homes near the park which increases tax revenue. But this something for nothing attitude has got to stop. This country is going broke too for the same reason. THERE IS NO MORE MONEY PEOPLE.
I think we need to start NOW recruiting someone to run against Mr. Cunningham in the next election. We need level headed people with a common sense approach to the problems that face our community. Step up to the plate and find someone to challenge him in the next election.
cordell you lost you ever loving mind????? you can't fill up a sink hole with soap suds.... and that is what the rec center is why not sell it or give it away to the WMCA... and stop losing money... it seems like everyone is against leroy and al... but to me all they are trying to do in stop costing the tax payers money.. and how many people do they have out therre working? does anyone know? is it as many as we have at the street dept..... iam saying shelbyville doesn't need a rec center i am saying the city of shelbyville doesn't need to own it...
as for as the shake board.... doesn't eds boy do that? or isn't that all he does skate out therer...?
Cordell: just look at the amount of money being spent,it is public record IF you want to read it!I dont always agree with Leeroy Cunningham but NO ONE can run any business long with the kind of spending the city does and yes the city IS a business but it is not run like one.The spending has to stop and we need more jobs and better subdivisions to bring in more taxes. Mr Cunningham is a businessman and anyone who has a business knows when the money is tight the spending better stop or you are not in business very long.One problem in Shelbyville is some of the leaders have always drawn a paycheck working for someone else but have never had ANY experance running a business.
Regarding the money situation, Bedford County needs a wheel tax. Think about it. We have public housing- those people don't pay property taxes; we have Bedford Manor- those people don't pay property taxes; We have slum lords that own all the crack parks like King Arthur etc, and the slum lords that own the ratty, run down buildings lining Madison St and they aren't paying enough taxes. However, look at some of the vehicles sitting in public housing driveways, Bedford Manor's parking lot, King Arthur and the rest of the slummy trailer parks. Look at the vehicles the slum lords drive and then look at the "Trailer City" near Coloredo where 2-3 Hispanic families live in one house. All these above mentioned places often have nicer vehicles than I drive. Granted, all the illegals and drug offenders may not have a license but by golly they all have a car with tags on it. So, by having a wheel tax, we won't just tax the property owners, we will tax EVERYONE that drives. So now, the public housing tenants, slum lord tenants, crack park tenants, and Hispanics will all pay a wheel tax and contribute to the economy cause they sure aren't doing it by living in rental property. Come on Council members and voters. I don't know why ANYONE would not see the logic in this.
66,000 lost in May?? Really?? Isn't that when the drain covers on both pools at the Rec Center had to be fixed? So are we counting the cost of fixing the drain covers into this loss even though it is a one time cost and was something that was demanded by the government?
I would like to know how much does the park make or lose in the fall and winter months. There is very little staff needed then because no one uses the outside areas then but yet people pay to use the inside. No pool to maintain, no ball field lights to pay for.. in fact the park actually closes at dark.
I agree DianaTN...the winter/summer should balance themselves out. Something just doesn't seem right. And those drain coveres (according to news reports) were not cheap. Seems like a nice, big number to throw out there to make a point?!
"broken leg" seems to think we don't need to own or manage a rec center. Well, we don't need to build an industrial park that will sit empty for years either. We don't need to pay to bulldoze blighted buildings that should be paid for by the owner. We should not be paying to destroy buildings on the square that are the responsibility of the owner. And we should not be charging $9 on an already high electric bill so they can pay for a trash system that will save money. Maybe they can save the funds there to pay for the losses at the rec center....good grief...I am willing to loose some money on the rec for the benefits that it provides, especially if we are going to get railroaded on all these other issues...
Lee Roy and others have been trying to get someone else to run the recreation center since its inception. Lee Roy...Please quit beating this white elephant to death. I would like to see if the figures he uses are for the recreation center operating costs only and not the department as a whole.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would be willing to bet that no other department in the city is required to pay for itself. Why should the parks department be any different?
Profit takes a back seat to a higher quality of life when it comes to recreation. I believe that the recreation center adds quality of life to not only Shelbyville, but Bedford County as a whole. I hope that when asked, the staff there can truly justify their expenses.
Off topic of the recreation center, but I've got to ask..."Readersrule" do you honestly think the landlords absorb the property taxes out of the kindness of their hearts??? I can almost guarantee the tenants are paying for the property taxes through their rent. Landlords figure that into their rental fees that they charge. It's the same way that companies and businesses figure their business taxes into their bottom line...the end consumer pays....period.
attach a fee of 25.00 on each horse entered in the celebration and give the owner a day pass for the celebration.
bedforcounty08.... { shakes head in disbelieve you must have your head stuck in the sand } .....speaking of railroads... yes we got on of them to... the line is full of empty cars line the street down east lane and every where else he can put them... that to me is any eye sore... if those where cars the codes would be out the writing you a ticket and making you get rid of it... AND again yes we have a railroad... it puts in and backs out and ISN'T ED on that board too??? i didn't say we didn't need a rec center... I SAID the city of shelbyville does NOT need to own it.. it cost taxpayers money and DIANATN i think you are right why does it cost so much to run the rec center in the winter as there is no ball fields, no cutting grass, not much of nothing going on out the BUT all that help standing around...
I would think most of the park employees are seasonal employees..if not they certainly should be.
brokenleg...as for the empty train car issue. it is not the city's responsibility to go rushing in and clean that up just like we should not be demolishing buildings we don't own. The city or county needs to crack down on the owners rather than rush in with a bulldozer. It has already costs us with the building on the square that was demolished and put the budget in the hole.
Lots of "renters" in the housing projects and section 8 housing don't pay property taxes through the landlords.
Lee Roy ole boy, why don't you buy it if you are so bright, that'll give you another business to accumulate your wealth at and keep the less fortunate from excrelling. Seems like boys like leroy have an answer for everything, hey how about selling it to Tysons food real cheap, they can bed their global citizens their and exercise them too, don't know about food though, we'd need to get some stimulus money from "OBAMA". That's the answer, stimulus, it stimulates me just thinking about it.
I have been one posting about how I think the Rec Center is worth the money that is being spent on it. I also believe that there are some ways the park could cut down on its overall budget. Just my two cents.
First, one of the worst decisions by the park was to get rid of putt putt and exchange it for Frisbee golf. One was a money-making activity while the other is not. In addition, the number of people going to Frisbee golf is nowhere near what putt putt was. While putt putt may have had an employee to collect money, that money made from it was enough to cover that cost. If the money was there on its own to build the Frisbee golf then fine, but they should not have traded one for the other.
Another suggestion is to keep those white trucks park except to go to other parks in the city or on official business. Why do they continue to run the engine and air conditioning to just sit or slow patrol the park? Can't they use golf carts or gators when in the main park (weather permitting). I once saw the big truck driving up the walking trail with no regard for the walkers. Park the truck and use something that wastes less gas and is less scary to walkers (especially those with headphones who can't hear the big truck coming). Why sit in a running truck like Sherriff Roscoe P. Coltrane waiting for someone to break the law so he can get a good start on the hot pursuit.
Next, organizations that make money off using the park should pay a fee. From high school team camps that use the gyms to the big baseball tournaments on the outside fields. If the event is a moneymaker, then charge a fee or percentage. Not a freebee.
The park must also crack down on free guests. From friends who get in free to people who just sneak into the rec center. It needs to stop.
Activities like the skateboard park and tennis courts should be charged a fee to use. Metro Nashville has a skatepark that is always full and they charge to use it. Fence them both in and charge a per use or a pass to use them both.
Finally, the walking trail is one of the most popular free things to do at the park. Why not keep it repaired and maybe even make it longer and more secure. More people will be drawn to the park and might use the paid for facilities as well.
Just a thought.
Nobody charges a fee to use outdoor tennis courts, at least in this area.
The exception may be a racquet club or country club, but they usually on charge to use the indoor courts. The outdoor courts are usually covered by the membership dues.
I do believe the sport camps should be charged a large fee.When these camps are there it prevents paying members from using them. Any day usage admission costs are lost, so the teams should pay to offset losses in addition to a percentage of profits. If they object they can manage the best they can on school courts.
Guess what I am lucky I have a broken up sidewalk on my street (Belmont ave)but guess what, we do not have any storm water drains when it rains cars spray 20 ft. high water as they pass you walking. By time you get to your home a drownded rat looks better. All the water runs in our yards and basements. But you get a free shower HA HA.
Bedford County needs more Leroy Cunningham's on the Council. When everyone agrees with everything placed in front of them, guess what? We will have more of the very problems Leroy is trying to correct by bringing them to our attention. You may not like what he has to say or how he says it, but pay attention to the issues he addresses. Leroy is trying to bring attention to issues that some one (mainly us taxpayers) should be concerned about. Keep up the good work Leroy. I think you are right on target!
I do not believe Mr. Cunningham is saying that he wants to shut down the rec center, he said that we need to get someone else to run it and build a industrial park with the money that is saved. I believe at one point Mr. Dial was running it but someone thought he was not good enough so they made him assistant director and hired this lady that has no idea abouts anything but it has to be her way or nothing. If the rec center is losing money can we not go back to when MR. Overcast was over it and see if we was loosing money then. If so then we need to get rid of the people running it. I do not know what they do anyways besides mow the grass around the park, answer phone calls, do we not have enough people in jail to take care of this. I know for a fact that they do not help with any softball or baseball tournament it is up to whomever is putting on the tournaments to arrange and pick up everything all they do is mow the grass. But I heard someone say this year that when a tournament is put on that the organization that is hosting the tournament must pay the rec center $150.00 per field.
Bring back putt-putt golf. My family doesn't use the tennis courts, but we need more! Open the outdoor pool earlier, like at 9:00 or 10:00 daily! We had to buy our own cheapy pool to suit OUR hours.
Just to answer the question in regards to the Baseball fields.
The Bedford County Baseball pays for its own needs and supplies; none of this comes from the counties/Rec Center funds. The fees that are paid for registration are used to buy new equipment for the teams. The gate fee, goes back into the BCB to allot for payout...Umps, Scorekeepers, & Concessions' do not work for free, and parents do not want to volunteer for these tasks. The monies made from the concession are put back into the drinks, food, & etc. that you are able to purchase there. The Bedford County Baseball League has no financial effect on the Rec Center.
MoMmYoF2bOyZ..... No but Baseball does have a financial effect on the park as a whole. The upkeep of the fields and the electricity that is used.
The upkeep of the Fields comes out of the BCB funds.
I dont usually comment on this type of stuff but could not help myself this time. First, I would like to stick up for Cunningham because he is not scared to stick up for what is right no matter how much grief he may catch. Most of the other council members cannot say that. Second, I do not think we should get rid of the Rec center and I don't think that is what Cunningham was saying. We need to have someone in there running it and it not costing a fortune to do so and putting us under budget. We have police officers and fire fighters that are risking their lives everyday and only make 1/4 of the salary that Ed and Sylvia make. Now tell me how that is fair. The city needs to cut cost in these tough times just as every business is having to do. We just need someone that is going to cut the right cost instead of taking away raises just so the hire ups can have a new vehicle. I thin kthe people on here complaining should go to the city council meetings and see what really goes on and be involved in the city instead of getting on here and talking about people when all they did was read an article.
Eagleeyes,
Mr. Overcast was completely unqualified to run a recreation center. When he was chosen, directors of similiar facilities in other cities could not believe that Shelbyville hired a man with no real background in true recreation. His background was extremely concentrated in the promotion of high school sports which resulted in less promotion of other areas important to recreational programming.
He had no clue about fitness or aquatic programming and certainly lacked the engaging personality to attract members. While I am not crazy about this particular director, I must say that improvements have been made and HAS become more user friendly.
I am sure Mr. Dial would have been an excellent choice, and never understood why this woman was picked.
This whole big mess of crap was going on before Obama took office. You can't blame the President...Bush or Obama for the Idiots running this town/county. If you want to make this County a better place put working people in charge of it and not a darn white collar my poop don't stink pencil pushing egotistical bunch of Dumb a!@#$. I have coached sports for kids at the rec center and think it is an awesome thing for them. However the management there has got to be the most dimwhitted bunch of people I have ever seen. Maybe the rec center should be ran by one paid manager and then volunteers to do the rest. It being for the kids i would hope there would be plenty of people willing to help. Has anyone ever checked to see what it takes to become a state park? Henry Horton is no where near as nice as HV Griffin so what could it hurt. Or put a restaurant out there and use the profit from that to fund the rec center. Yes as long as the restaurant overhead is paid the rest PROFIT could be used to fund the rec. OOOPS look i just created jobs in bedford county. Sorry bout that council members. OOOOOH the HV GRIFFIN GRILLE has a ring to it doesn't it
Not that anybody cares but as I sit and read all these responses to the ridiculous article that started this in the first place, I am ashamed and embarrassed to know that the citizens of Bedford County would talk about our City park that is well maintained and enjoyed by so many on a daily basis year round. I personally have witnessed the employees at the park do more than just mow the grass. The security guards that have been referred to as comical tv characters work very hard and DO keep unwanted loitering out of the park to the best of their ability. I would gladly move out of the way so they can ride down the trail in order to keep me safe. H.V. Griffin Park is not the only park the maintenance dept. has to "mow". The new Director may have her moments but she has opened up the door for new and innovative ideas and programming that was never there before for all ages. Before you bash the Rec Center and how it is run...could you do it, really? Every department in the city can be nitpicked and torn apart if people want to only see the negative aspects of everything. I say it's time to appreciate what we have and try to help each other out instead! Ask yourself what you can do! As you read this comment you will see that there is not one negative comment about any person. People outside of our community read this as well as us and oh what they must think of our little community that I enjoy living in so much. NO COMPLAINTS HERE. Have a great day!
I would like to list the main staff at The rec. and see if everybody knows why they have so many people.
1st. Parks Director
2nd. 2 assistant directors
3rd. Senior programmer
4th. Athletic Coordinator
5th. Recreation Program Coordinator.
6th. Aquatic Director
7th. Fitness Coordinator
8th. Recreation Supervisor
9th. Maintenance Supervisor
10th. Shop Supervisor
11th. Maintenance Foreman
I would love to know these salaries!!!
Why do they need two assistant Directors?? (looks like one is to keep someone happy)
Why do they need so many Coordinators?? ( why do they need a athletic coordinator, don't all the local leagues run their self and have a volunteer board)
I don't know for sure that Mr. Overcast had all the paper work like Silvia but I bet he put allot more elbow grease into the rec center. If not the street that runs through the park would not be named after him. Thanks to the T-G for getting this info out and to Mr. Cunningham for not holding nothing back!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you want answers, Go to City Hall and request the information. It is public record.
when i go into the rec center in the evening i see the same person just standing up against the counter. I would like to know what he does and what his job title is. I think his name is lenny but not sure. I see him standing by the counter when i come in and when i leave, is it his job to hold the counter up. Also i have been in the there in the evening and in the mornings i have heard alot about some woman named sylvia what exactly does she do, and what does she get paid. On another note about the rec center i wish the people that worked behinde counter where more like Sue, shes really nice and always has a smile. And the guy that does the gym floors, he's always real nice and always stops to help a customer or give a smile. wish more of the rec center employee were like these two people. Wish they would put the guy that does the gym floors back on the morning shift.i have heard a lot of people asking for him or asking were hes at. i agree with alot of folks they should not have gotten rid of the putt putt, it made money right up till closing time. And did yall know they have caution tape around the frisbee golf. i heard that it can not be used what a waste of money. Maybe they should get rid of whoever decide to put that in.
WOW! I can't believe so many people have all this time to sit and complain about the Shelbyville Recreation Center. It seems some of you have not a clue of what really goes on at this facility or at any Recreation facility for that matter. During the summer, if any of you have participated in sports there are things called Baseball and Softball tournaments. People travel all over for the whole summer with their family and kids to watch them play in these tournaments. In return what does this help, THE CITITES in which the tournaments are played!!! People have to stay in hotels, the have to eat, and they shop! It was reported in the New York Times several weeks ago that a week long softball tournament generated over 1 million dollars for the city in which held the softball tournament. Talk about support for your city, the rec center is your easy target. Leaving you something to think about.... How would you feel if someone wrote about your job and everyone bashed it? You all need to sit back and instead of complaining about it get out and help. The rec center is not at fault here for the cities mistakes. Look at all the empty building around town.The rec center can help the city produce jobs just like bringing in another industrial job park. It can bring in more hotels, more restuarants (which are needed), and more shopping centers, which would produce more jobs!!!
Is this the same Mr. Cunningham that owned a salvage yard on Hwy 41A North? If it is then that would be the same one that sold it to a Mr. Bushnell and he now has the city tied up in an expensive law suit.That has got to be costing the city a lot of money.
Snake02,
You are absolutely right to defend the rec center. Where you are mistaken (other than your punctuation and run-on sentences) is the assertion that the center or the tournaments can bring jobs, hotels, or shopping.
It is not likely that any of these tounaments will bring in enough revenue to inspire anyone to open another restuarant. You also must realize that by quoting a New York paper that the numbers described are generated by larger tournaments than Shelbyville will ever see.
I am certain that most reasonable people are not bashing the job that any specific employee does. Keep in mind some positions may be superfluous and posters may have been trying to make that point.
Let me just say that I too think the whole city needs to be audited. If we need to stop spending so much, then they need to quit giving out raises, like the one we all gave to our city treasure not so long ago.
We need to keep the Rec center its great for our city in more ways then one as well as for all ages. I do agree on the fact we do need to charge school leagues when they have tournements, as we would any one else, that rents the fields or gym or meeting rooms. Thats $ that they loose for daily fee customers or other paying customers as its a first come bases, as well as it discourages the members.
I dont feel anyone needs to loose their job, But if you check out all the cordinators assistance"s apposed to just how many actualy work on an average hourly bases, there are to many cheifs and not enough indians so to speak.
I agree the Director has made some very good changes, and some that shouldn't have been. I believe that the Rec center could run just fine with out so many cheifs.
We do need more jobs in this area, why can't we use the abbanded proptery, buildings to that aspect, and leave the Rec center where it is. As far as the high expense in May, I do believe that was when they had to replace the drains that did cost them alot, that was also government demanded. Gee just think if they hadn't spent that for the drains it could have been disastress, some where down the line and more then likely, more $ with a law suit.
We are all adults here so lets stick together as a community and come up with a solution that works for everyone. Or is that too much to ask??
I think the Director is doing a fine job as any might could. I also think everyone that works for the parks / Rec does a fine job evryone has smiles and is for the most part friendly too.keep up the good work
hh
Why stop with the hospital, nursing home and park? Why not lease out other areas of our public domain. We could continue the transition to privatization with garbage disposal (after we upgrade it of course, is that the plan?). If there is not too much complaining about that, we could then look to law enforcement (oh-I forgot, they already wanted to contract the traffic light business out). You guys are going to talk yourself right out of a job, and the citizens you represent out of valuable services if you keep it up.
If you think that giving the private sector the public works reduces the cost, you are mistaken. It may reduce the cost to the taxpayer base as a whole, but increases the end cost to the user and usually reduces services provided if not directly, then indirectly through being price restrictive for many. If you want to reduce the costs, then simply reduce the costs by cutting the fat yourselves. If there is no waste or mis-management, publish your entire budgets for each department with every dollar accounted for right here in the TG and I would be willing to bet the good citizens of this city could reduce a lot of your costs with good workable common sense suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with that, then I agree with granylou, we need to be audited with a microscope.
The idea of giving away services that the tax base paid for in the first instance is ridiculous. If you are taking future orders though, I would be interested in leasing that industrial park that will be losing money in a few years, if it is ever built. I will pay you $1.00 a month to take it off your hands. Please include at least 3 100,000ft and 5 10,000 ft energy efficient buildings, with 1 5000 ft. home (natural rock exterior with marble floors and columns) with an olympic sized indoor pool (furnished if possible).
I would like to see the kids in housing and low-income families have more access to the park and rec center. Maybe a YMCA would accomplish this. One problem is transportation, it may be difficult for some people to get up there. Definitely think a management change would be a good thing. Seems like to many people hanging around doing nothing. Don't know what lifeguards are paid but one day when I was up at the pool there were bunches of them just hanging around. Way more than were needed for the handful of swimmers.
bayng99,
Unsupervised children should not be allowed to go the rec center. The facility is not a daycare and the employees have other things to do.
Also you fail to understand regulations regarding lifeguards. They must cycle between guarding and being off the stand for safety reasons, so several are required at one time.
If you want answers, Go to City Hall and request the information. It is public record.-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 7:17 AM
Many people should do this, because in these budget reports will be listings for revenue and expenses of the recreation department. Unless things have changed in recent years, these reports will shed light on at least 3 misconceptions that have been promoted here.
First, the putt-putt golf course has NEVER MADE MONEY, AS IN IT NEVER TURNED A PROFIT. A person will have to go back several years to find information about the putt-putt course since it has been several years since it was razed. Sure, it generated a very small bit of revenue, but NEVER enough to cover the cost for the employee, much less the electricity, supplies and maintenance.
Second, the statement that a particular sports league "has no financial effect on the Rec. Center" IS AN IGNORANT THING TO WRITE (lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified). A person only has to go through the budget report to see how much "financial effect" that the leagues have. Just contemplate if you will the electric, water and sewer bill that the recreation department (taxpayers) covers for each league. That "financial effect" alone would bankrupt most any of the leagues.
Third, the "upkeep of the fields" HAS NEVER COME OUT OF ANY LEAGUE'S FUNDS. Upkeep has historically been performed by recreation department staff. Upkeep includes but is not limited to mowing, weed eating, trash pickup, raking, painting grass lines, watering, light bulb replacement, etc. While some specific items (over seeding, fertilizer, aeration, painting, etc) may have been paid for by a league, the VAST majority of money for "upkeep of the fields" is covered by the taxpayers.
Boy Oh Boy, what a lovely bunch of people we have in Shelbyville that like to run their mouths about stuff they have no idea about!! Yeah, that's right I'm talking about MY DADDY!!! Where were all you people that hate him so bad and think he is doing such a crappy job when election time rolled around?!?! Want him out, GO VOTE!!! I would love him to be out of office, nobody appreciates what he is trying to do anyway! I take that back, there are a handful of intelligent people that left comments that understand where he is coming from. However to all you IGNORANT IDIOTS that can't say anything good about him, let me enlighten you a bit!! Every since I can remember, my father has been the BIGGEST tight wad I have ever known! The only thing he is trying to stop is IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING OF TAX PAYERS MONEY. He NEVER said he wanted to SHUT DOWN the rec center, he said it needed to be under different management/ownership so that the irresponsible spending would STOP!! I would like to say THANK YOU to the few people who have jumped to my father's defense that actually understand what he is trying to do. Mr./Ms. "atitagain", you are exactly right, people need to shut up about 1 article they read and actually get up off their behinds and go sit in at a council meeting so they can see and hear for themselves exactly what is going on! Don't base your opinions off 1 article you read or hear say! To "tmixer5"- Mr. Cunningham has his so called wealth that you are talking about because he worked hard for it and does NOT spend it irresponsibly! And he does NOT buy up businesses to try and keep the less fortunate from excelling. And by the way, you need to shut up and learn how to spell! There is no such word as excrelling you idiot!! "WORKIN4ALIVIN", you apparently don't have kids that play baseball, or you would know that the parks and recreation do NOT do all the maintenance on those fields!! Where were you a couple of years ago when THE LEAGUE BOUGHT THE PAINT AND THE LEAGUE OFFICERS, UMPIRES, AND PARENTS PAINTED THE BLEACHERS TO MAKE THEM LOOK NICER!!!??? (and by the way... MR. LEE ROY CUNNINGHAM WAS 1 OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HELPED PAINT THAT DAY!!!) Whoever said he doesn't know what goes on at the park, get your crap straight! He's probably over there as much as you are with his grandkids! Get your facts together or SHUT UP!! "JAXSPIKE" if you will check your facts, you will find out that Cunningham was AGAINST the trees on the square but Mr. Ed Craig had to have them, and had to have someone he knew to come and plant them!! What was wrong with having some of our LOCAL nurserys do that!! There is your "GOOD OLE BOY" system at work!! And if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Ed Craig also got Ms. Sylvia in here to be over the rec center! More of that "GOOD OLE BOY" system that you all like to blame on my father!! Go check the salaries of Ed and Sylvia!! That's where some of the costs could be cut!! You also need to check on some of the unnecessary things that Ms. Sylvia has "had" to have to run the park, and find out who ok'd her to spend the money on those things that she thought the park just couldn't run without! I can assure you that "good ole Lee Roy" wasn't one of them that voted for that irresponsible spending! And whoever said somthing about the council not getting their paychecks, and cutting cost that way. Let me enlighten you on that as well, Cunningham had mentioned to the council members about giving their checks back to the city, but all your other council members said NO!!! All this frivolous spending is coming from some of your other council members, CUNNINGHAM has ALWAYS been against spending money that doesn't need to be spent! The answer to "BEDFORD32"- yes this is the Cunningham that sold the salvage yard to Mr. Bushnell, however get your facts straight, because the lawsuit has NOTHING to do with Cunningham! If you will use your brain and investigate the story, you will find that MR. ED CRAIG is the main man that started all that stink, so when Mr. Bushnell costs the city MORE money that it don't have, you can thank that lovely, bright, wonderful city manager that sits up there and causes chaos! He stuck his nose where it didn't belong with the wrecker services in town, and that is where the lawsuit stems from! Everyone thinks Mr. ED CRAIG is doing such a wonderful job, you morons need to go take a look at the books that are public record and see how much nonsense he has spent money on that the city doesn't have. Then take a look at the employees that were there when he became city manager, and take a look at the ones that have been replaced by people that have connections with MR. ED CRAIG!! Again, there's your "good ole boy" antics hard at work! Check ED CRAIG's salary, then go ask him if he would run down a robber, or go into a burning house, or ride on the back of a trash truck!! Now to "sameoldstory" and "gottago"- If you 2 think you can do a better job at this position, then why don't your foolish backward redneck hillbilly butts sign up and run for it?!?!?! Lee Roy Cunningham is the most LEVEL HEADED person you have on the city council, but some of you are to stupid and eat up with ignorance to see that! If you will notice, he stands up for what he believes in, and unlike other council members, he has a backbone and is NOT afraid to tell it like it is! He doesn't just pull this stuff out of a magic hat to talk about. People call him complaining about things going on in the city, and he fights for them. He goes out and finds out the facts, and if the facts have got you all in a this bad of an uproar, then tough! But if you want to elect someone who will go in there, keep their mouth shut, spend money that is not there to be spent, and not stand up for the people of Shelbyville, then FIND SOMEONE TO RUN AGAINST HIM at the next election! We had rather have him at home with us anyway! And in closing, I want all of you spineless weiners that can't use your REAL names when you leave comments on here to know, that if you have SUCH a problem with Mr. Cunningham, then take your pansy behinds by his business and talk to him about it. He is there most of the time, and he has his phone number on the window. What's the matter, too scared of finding out the TRUTH!! And don't worry about him being upset or mad at all these comments, he laughed at all of them! It was me and my mother that you ticked off by saying the mean things you said! Remember when you call this man a fool, and a backward redneck hillbilly, that he is MY daddy, and he has a wife, and grandchildren that do NOT appreciate it!! That just shows how small minded and IGNORANT all of you really are! And if you notice, I was NOT afraid to let you know EXACTLY who I am! And my number is in the phone book, if any of you cowards would like to contact me!