The recreation coordinator position under the Physical Activity Action Group isn’t going as well as had been planned.
On Monday, representatives from the action group asked county commissioners for an additional $70,000 over two years to go toward salary; half for the 2010 fiscal year starting July 1 and the other half given July 1, 2011.
“We’ve already got the $30,000 still that was received from the funds that you turned over to the city of Sidney parks and rec board. So we have [it] to kind of get started,” Scott Doty told commissioners.
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Doty said HealthWorks had pledged to put forth $15,000 a year toward the position, but due to the facility’s concentration on replacing equipment, isn’t able to do it. However, the fitness center would become an “employer” as it would cover administration duties like pay roll and provide supervision as well as cover day to day operation costs.
The position is expected to pay between $35,000 and $45,000 (depending on experience) in salary for two years that includes compensation in place of a full benefits package.
There was concern, however, how the action group plans to continue funding the position after the two-year period is up. Doty said there is “plenty of money out there” through grants in which the rec coordinator would begin writing for once they fill the position. Revenue-generating programs and events would also go to fund the position as well.
Blinda Larsen told commissioners that with President Obama and his wife, Michelle’s, support and push for physical activity, money is expected to be more readily available for recreational activities. She acknowledged what could happen if worse comes to worse. “If the funding isn’t available,” she said, “the position could conceivably disappear.”
Larsen and Doty said the position of a rec coordinator has been on the minds and tongues of many people, especially in the last two community-wide conferences. Questions have been asked about why there hasn’t been such a person before, but the answer always comes down to funding. “This is an opportunity to at least try it and see if it is what people perceive it to be,” Larsen said.
Last year, the action group advertised for candidates but failed to land any. “We did have some very qualified people, but they simply didn’t want to commit to coming here unless it was full time,” Doty said, adding two years wasn’t stable enough for a move.
As of two weeks ago, the Sidney parks and recreation committee, which was designated by the commissioners to prioritize various organizations’ needs, had received one application for a portion of the $150,000. The deadline is April 30.
“We’re just going to have to look at this and try to see where we sit because we’ve got so many commitments,” commissioner Mark Rehbein said.
Larsen and Doty asked for a response within the next couple weeks so the action group can begin advertising once again for the position. “Let’s go from there,” Rehbein said, “and we’ll put you on the wish list.”
reporter@sidneyherald.com
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