Politics & Government

City-County Parks Agreement Gets Positive Reviews

The county would manage programs at several parks, but the city would be responsible for maintenance.

It's been obvious for years, they said.

"We don't have the staff to manage" our organized sports fields, city manager Scott Wood said during Thursday night's council meeting.

"Imagine dealing with people's kids and teams," Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood said. "You deal with their money. The city really did not have the expertise to schedule all these teams and the use of the various fields."

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That is why Hobgood and members John Beresford and Pat Tanner expressed support for a city-county parks agreement (see attached PDF document) that would shift that responsibility to Cherokee County.

At least "until we have the capability–or at least feel comfortable that we have the capability–of managing and looking out for our own recreational department," Hobgood said.

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Here's how the agreement would work: The county would manage the scheduling. All Canton would have to worry about is maintenance. If either side wanted to nullify the agreement at any time, a provision would allow that.

"If Mr. Wood has worked out an agreement with the county that if we’re not happy with what’s going on, anyone of us can terminate it, I think that’s the best way to go until we do get the staff to handle our city parks," Tanner said.

The has not voted on the agreement. Wood and county manager Jerry Cooper have just met several times to discuss it.

"I think we are on one accord conceptually," Wood said.

Wood said there is no timeline or "drop dead date" for the city and the county to approve the agreement.

But Beresford and Hobgood urged Wood to continue negotiations with Cherokee County. Opening day for a number of area youth leagues is just one week away.

"Let’s get that thing nailed," Beresford said. "The kids are going to need an answer. The scheduling is coming down the pipe.

"It’s already there."

Council member Bob Rush, who said he felt "Canton parks should be controlled by Canton people," asked what the city needed to manage its own parks.

"A professional," Hobgood said. "Someone who's been in the recreation area for a number of years."

He said Canton needed someone of the same caliber as Keith Hammond, who stepped down as director of the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency in December after 22 years on the job.

"I think we're going to have that one day," he said. "I’m afraid right now is not the time."


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