BOC pushes back nominations for Park and Rec Board
News July 16, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Nominations for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board did not see approval this month as the Board of Commissisoners (BOC) decided to wait for more defined information before submitting their names for nominations.
As the BOC discussed the agenda item, several areas of representation were discussed including youth sports, the walking trail, overall condition and facilities, Tennis, Pickleball, Pool, Civic Center, and soccer.
The BOC also discussed including the school system’s High School Athletic Director as the youth sports lead into school sports.
One of the discussion came as the county will be looking at other areas of inclusion for representation. They also noted that while the advisory board should cover the whole park and each person makes up the whole, this would allow each representative to have an area of expertise.
Additionally, the BOC is still discussing the exact parameters of the advisory board’s responsibility for recommendations, plans, changes, and other areas the county may be seeking advisement on. Paris noted that he specifically did not want the board to have the authority to make any changes themselves.
Post Commissioner Parker stated he had names that he would nominate, but wanted to see the official documentation and responsibilities first so that anyone joining the board would know exactly what was expected. The commissioners discussed each member coming up with a list of responsibilities and expectations to help build the starting documentation for the advisory board. With that document in construction and due to return in August, this could mean that actual nominations could potentially be pushed back until September as the BOC establishes the board’s responsibilities in August and takes time to speak to people before nominating them. However, if the BOC adds the item to a special called meeting expected to take pace in late July, then nominations could come in the August meeting.
Within youth sports, ideas came to split representatives or have multiple representatives for either male and female sports or potentially splits between a parents representatives and coaches or officials or some other need.
Discussion also focused on the advisory board creating a master plan or 5 year plan for the commissioners similar to the airport advisory board.
County renames park to Ralston River Park
News May 14, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Honoring the entire Ralston family for contributions to the county and the park specifically, including that of Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to rename the riverside park along Old Highway 5 to “Ralston River Park.”
In April of 2018, Speaker David Ralston attended the opening of the new playground at River Park which a state grant aided local funds in creating.
Originating in this month’s meeting as an agenda item to rename the walking path for the Ralston family, discussion turned to the 28 years of service the county has received through numerous efforts from the family as a whole. Parks and Recreations Director Kevan White spoke during the Commissioners Work Session on the topic saying that some of those efforts include employment with the Parks and Rec Department, officiating basketball games over the years, memberships to the Parks and Rec Advisory Board, coaching various sports, GRPA awards and recognitions, state level service with public service since 1992, state legislation since 2002, volunteer services in disasters like Hurricane Isaac, state-level support in the recent upgrades, county level public service in the commissioners office, and more.
The original proposal the White spoke of was to name the path the “Ralston Riverwalk.” However, Post Commissioner Hubert Parker offered a step-up alternative in naming the whole park instead of the just the walking path. While White said he had thought about it, but didn’t propose it at first, he noted that several parts of the park, like the tennis courts, bear names of people who have dedicated great services to the county and the Parks and Recreation Department as well. White also noted that he has further plans for other dedications in the Clear Creek area as well.
Kevan White speaks to the Gilmer BOC in May of 2021 about renaming the park as “Ralston River Park.”
Ultimately, no objection came, and a unanimous agreement to increase the dedication from the walking path to the park in general was made. The BOC May Regular meeting saw the formal motion to add the honorific.
The official name change completed, Chairman Charlie Paris did tell FYN that the county would be placing some sort of plaque or signage bearing the name in the future. But does not currently have a sign ready for it.