County finalizes takeover of Turbeville Recreation Department

Posted
Clarendon County Council took the final step Thursday toward the acquisition of the Turbeville Recreation Department program. Council members voted unanimously out of the four of five present to authorize Administrator David Epperson to execute agreements with the town that would basically absorb its program into the Clarendon County Recreation Department. Councilman Benton Blakely was not present. "We were approached by the town of Turbeville back around the first of the year," said Epperson. "Since then, we've had numerous discussions within the town, along with a community meeting. The town looked at the process of having a private group run the program; however, that was not able to happen." Turbeville Town Council voted in late May to offer its Recreation Department program to the county, less than a month after a meeting letting area residents know what such a deal would entail. Mayor Dwayne Howell said the town had several concerns with the deal, however, chief among them an opposition to "co-ed sports." “We have also requested that the county try and keep the basketball separate from being co-ed. Residents are adamant that they want boys teams and girls teams," Howell. "We are very conservative over here when it comes to that. We understand if they don’t have the numbers, then they have to do what they have to do, but we do not want co-ed basketball.” Epperson said that the county has agreed to continue all Turbeville programs for the coming fiscal year. "We have negotiated a lease with the town to utilize their current facilities," said Epperson. "We met with them and agreed that we would offer the same programs this first year that they're currently offering now to ease the transition and make it as smooth as possible." Epperson said the agreement with the town of Turbeville will be effective from July 1 through June 30, 2018, "There is no fee for the lease; the town will lease the property and equipment to us at no charge," said Epperson. "The lease will automatically extend every year for 20 years, unless either party decides to terminate it. That is allowed, within 90 days notice." The county will also be allowed to sublease the facility. "This would be for traveling softball or baseball tournaments," said Epperson. "We will be able to work those in there. We have basic terms in the agreement where we could sublease but we have to provide notice to the town and agree not to violate any town ordinances. I don't foresee any problem with that." Epperson said that the agreement will take effect Saturday. He said that fees for programs are likely to go down for Turbeville residents. Howell said that while the Turbeville program was popular, only about 10 percent of its users were from within the town limits. "Most of the people come from around the county or out of county anyway," he said. "By doing this, they will be able to utilize the programs that they're already paying into through property taxes to the county."