The possible merger of the Turbeville Recreation Department with the Clarendon County Recreation Department would feature the following details as outlined at a meeting held April 27 at Turbeville Town Hall where Mayor Dwayne Howell and Clarendon County Administrator David Epperson and Clarendon County Recreation Department Director LeBon Joye answered public questions.
* Both departments would continue to offer programs now being offered. Some programs may continue to be hosted by both facilities. Some ages and fees may change to what Clarendon County requires.
* Volleyball for girls will continue being offered, but will now be offered to the Manning and Summerton areas. Games will be played in Turbeville and Manning.
* Basketball will continue, but it will need to be determined if it would be co-ed as it is in Manning and Summerton, or just boys-only and girls-only as it is in Turbeville.
* Baseball and softball will continue, but with different ages for some leagues. The ages will be consistent with what Clarendon County offers now. For baseball, this means co-ed T-ball for ages 4 and 5; co-ed and non-competitive coach pitch for ages 6-7; Dixie Minors for ages 8-10; Dixie Youth for ages 11-12; and Dixie Boys for ages 13-14. For softball, Dixie Angels will be offered for ages 8-10 years; Dixie Ponytails for ages 11-12; and Dixie Belles for ages 13-15.
* In baseball, depending on the number of teams in Dixie Minors and Dixie Youth, there could be two franchises. If so, teams from Turbeville and Barrineau and Clarendon County will be intermixed in each franchise. Turbeville and Barrineau will still play together in their area, but players will go through the same type of draft process currently being done by Clarendon County.
* Teams from Turbeville area and Manning and Summerton areas will interlock during the teams from the Turbeville area and Manning-Summerton area teams will interlock during the regular season. All Star teams will be comprised of players from all areas within each franchise.
* Soccer will continue, but will be offered in all areas. If enough teams are formed, games will be played in both areas with interlocking schedules.
* Football will continue being offered in all three areas. Flag and tackle will be offered to all three areas with games being played at all three sites.
* Turbeville’s facilities will be leased to Clarendon County at no charge. Leases will need to be entered into between Clarendon County and The Citizens Bank in Turbeville, for parking, and with Clarendon School District 3 for the East Clarendon High School gymnasium and football field and the Walker Gamble Elementary School gymnasium.
* Additional staff will be added to the current Clarendon County staff. This person will be responsible for maintaining the Turbeville and Walker Gamble sites.
* All maintenance and sporting equipment will be leased to Clarendon County as no cost.
* Sponsor fees for teams and signs will be consistent with what Clarendon County now offers.
* Coaches will be assigned at the discretion of the Clarendon County Recreation director.
* Clarendon County would request that funding be paid by the Town of Turbeville to Clarendon County annually to supplement the merger.
* On this last point, Turbeville Mayor Dwayne Howell was in opposition, saying that the town of Turbeville was in no position to provide funding for the program were it to be taken over by the county.
