MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority held its first meeting on Wednesday and although it was primarily focused on startup business, there were members of the community on hand to offer suggestions on problems to address.

The state Legislature created the authority earlier this year to take over the operation of the county’s recreation department, which had been funded for many years by the city and county governments.

The new authority will be able to levy ad valorem taxes on its own and not need money from city and county governments to operate. The authority can levy no less than 1 and no more than 2 mills, relieving the city and county governments from having to fund recreation.

The new seven-person board, made of three members named by  the City of Moultrie and four by the Colquitt County Commission, met for the first time on Wednesday at the Ryce Community Center and spent most of the two-hour meeting discussing items that will enable the authority to begin operations.

Moultrie City Manager Pete Dillard assured the board that both the city and county governments will support the board.

“Chas (County Administrator Chas Cannon) and I have been talking about once a week about this and we can assure you have the city’s and county’s solid commitment to do whatever it takes to make this authority a success,” he said.

Dillard opened the meeting, but turned it over to Angela Castellow, who was elected by the board as its chairperson.

Bob Swadel was elected co-chairman and Brad Gregory was elected secretary/treasurer.

Castellow, a member of the Moultrie City Council, Dr. Cheau Williams and attorney Dorothy McCranie are the board members named by City Council.

Swadel, the former director of the Moultrie YMCA; Gregory, an assistant superintendent with the Colquitt County School System; County Commissioner Chris Hunnicutt; and farmer Heath Wetherington were named by County Commission.

City Finance Director Gary McDaniel attended the meeting in an advisory capacity.

Terry Peek, who has been recreation director for 11 years, also attended.

The board agreed to meet at Ryce Center at 7:30 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be on July 13.

Much of the rest of the meeting was spent discussing the selection of banks, an attorney, bookkeeping services, a maintenance supervisor, accounting software, an auditor, post office box, telephone system, signage and health and pension plans for the department’s employees.

Dillard said that the City of Moultrie will cover maintenance, utilities, health benefits and salaries for up to six months as the authority works toward becoming self-sufficient.

“No board starts off Day 1 being able to do all this,” Dillard said. “This will give six months to work into these things without it being a fire drill.”

The board also talked about making a request for funds through the T-SPLOST that will be voted on in November. Money could be available to the authority to help with paving projects.

The board expects to have more information in hand by next week’s meeting.

The board also will meet at 8:30 this morning at Moultrie City Council chambers with Valdosta City Manager Larry Hanson, who has helped Moultrie and Colquitt County officials establish the authority.

Hanson, a former recreation director himself, was instrumental in the formation of a similar authority in Lowndes County.

Like all authority meetings, today’s meeting with Hanson is open to the public.

When it concluded its business, the board called on citizens for comment and there were several.

Isabella Brooks asked if there are any plans to begin charging for use of the Ryce Center and Peek told her there were none.

Apondrea Marshall asked about signup fees for youth and was assured by Peek that none were being considered.

Marshall also said the board should consider allowing Doerun, Norman Park and Ellenton to enter separate teams in recreation sports programs, believing it would enable more children to take part.

He also proposed the authority institute a single registration that would allow parents to pay fees for all sports their children would enter at one time.

School board member Trudie Hill encouraged the board to consider improving the area around the Ryce Center in future facilities plans.

She said the area could use a shelter and landscaping.

Hill also indicated she hoped that in the future the board might have a more diverse representation.

Last month, Barbara Jelks appeared at a City Council meeting and noted that northwest Moultrie was not represented on the board.

Among the recreation facilities located in northwest are the Ryce Community Center, the A.F. Shaw Gymnasium, Drew Herrington Field and the northwest pool.

There was also a complaint that the northwest softball field did not have bleachers and there were no restroom facilities or a shelter at the field.

Castellow assured those who spoke to the board that their concerns would be addressed, although the current concern is getting the authority up and operating.

Dillard said that “no group will be ignored,” and added, “I think we can make good things happen here.”