VALDOSTA ? The Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority is bringing in more money than it is spending, according to the authority?s report at Thursday afternoon?s monthly meeting.
Through the first 10 months of the fiscal year, the VLPRA has a revenue of $957,640, a 44 percent increase from this time in 2011.
Following the news of the authority?s financial state, the proposed budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year was unanimously approved by the board.
During the citizen?s to be heard portion of VLRPA?s meeting, two citizens stepped forward regarding the case of Jeraldine Houston, who is known as the ?Peanut Lady.? At the end of May, Houston was told she would no longer be able to sell her sacks of peanuts, and variety of candy and cake at VLPRA facilities, as the authority had agreed to a food vender contract with Funnel Cake Kings.
The first citizen, Floyd Rose, encouraged the board to reconsider its ruling towards Mrs. Houston.
?(Jeraldine) has been faithful in paying her state and federal sales taxes and she is not asking for any special favors,? Rose said. ?She is just asking that you take a look at the long history that she has been doing this and consider allowing her to continue to do it.?
Immediately after Rose was finished, Lawanda Smith addressed the board, saying Houston should not be allowed back into VLPRA facilities to sell her merchandise. Smith said Houston has an improper business license, saying she has a ?general merchandise? license, which does not relate to food.
?That is not a food code,? Smith said. ?I couldn?t understand how she was actually able to bring pre-packaged foods from home and bring them out into the parks to sell...As a food service professional, I teach food safety and sanitation, the products that she sells, which she has noted in the paper, to be chicken salad sandwiches, there is no hot or cold holding, which puts consumers at risk. There is a food safety concern.?
The contract with Funnel Cake Kings is valid through the fall season and the vendor agreement will be up for bid in January of 2013.
Also at Thursday?s meeting, the VLRPA approved the nominations of board members. Russ Mast will remain in his seat as Chairman, while Michael McDowell will remain the Vice Chairman. J.C. Cunningham will remain as the Secretary and the Treasurer.
During the Director?s report, VLPRA Director George Page gave an update on how many people came through Valdosta and Lowndes County for three tournaments that were hosted by Peach State Diamond Sports at Freedom Park. Out of the 98 teams that participated, 54 utilized hotels at some point during their stay, as teams came from Atlanta, North Florida, Central Florida and also Southern Georgia, according to the report.
The report, which was in e-mail form, from Tim Nicholas of PSDS also thanked the authority?s staff for a ?tremendous job? during the events.
Page said the authority is looking into other ways to gauge exactly how many people stay at local hotels during tournaments.
The final thing from the Director?s report was the reminder that the VLRPA will be hosting the Dizzy Dean State All-Star tournaments for the 8 and 10-year olds. The tournaments will run from July 5-8 and will be held at Freedom Park.
The Facilities Committee had nothing new to report. Board member J.C. Cunningham did encourage the other board members to visit VLPRA facilities.
?Be diligent in visiting facilities,? Cunningham told the board. ?We are doing great improvements and we need to start letting the community know...We need to encourage the community to visit them some more...Our facilities will stack against any of them.?
During the Personnel update, the board approved the motion to revise Section 10 of the disciplinary action plan.
The VLPRA will hold its next meeting July 24 at 4:30 p.m.
peter facinelli bobby rush supreme court justices 19 kids and counting danny o brien alicia silverstone park slope food coop
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.