Details still need to be firmed up, however, a new position is coming to Lee Beran Recreation Center which will focus primarily on programming and the needs of senior rec members.
As part of their regular meeting agenda Monday evening, Emporia Recreation Commissioners approved the following motion “Approve a title to be named later wit an emphasis on on 50 plus population with the admin team to draft a job description for later approval.” The reason for the title of the new role being left open is that commissioners believe the position could be responsible for far more than just senior programming.
ERC Board Chair Jeremy Dorsey.
During the meeting, commissioner Mike Helbert commented that the ERC needs the senior population when it comes to the vote for a new rec facility funding source in March saying “we need to take care of them.” Following the ERC’s action, KVOE News spoke with Shelly Abounabhan one of the seniors that has led the charge for the position’s creation.
During that conversation, KVOE News asked Aboundabhan if she believed the senior members of the rec center would have deliberately voted against the measure if the position had not been created. Aboundabhan couldn’t answer the question but noted there would have been a great deal of disappointment if the commission had not pushed the matter forward.
Aboundabhan says the commission’s decision Monday is one that brought great excitement and validation to a population she believes has been highly underserved within the community.
Word on when the search for the role will officially begin is currently pending, however, Dorsey anticipates a job description could be ready for approval at the board’s next regular meeting in December. The search committee that will be responsible for selecting the ideal candidate for the supervisory role is the same one that has been charged with selecting the ERC’s next director following the announcement that longtime director Tom McEvoy will be retiring at the start of next year.
Speaking of which, commission members received an update on that process as part of Monday’s agenda. According to Assistant Director of Rec Operations Amanda Gutierrez, the process is in a “holding pattern” of sorts at this time with more discussions on progression expected at the commission’s next meeting in December.
Gutierrez explains the reason for the momentary hold has to do with several major projects in the works, specifically the upcoming special question vote on a possible funding source for the new Emporia rec facility in March. Gutierrez says search committee members have discussed the possibility of holding off on launching the search until the vote is completed as the outcome could have an impact on the candidates who may apply.
Other topics of discussion during the commission’s meeting included:
*Review and acceptance of the Emporia Rec Center Steering Committee’s final report
*Updates on ERC sports and the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s recently-held state volleyball tournament
*An agreement with Wright CPA Group for employee attention tax credits
*Legal counsel for the Rec Commission
*A review of VSR’s proposals for Santa Fe and Whittier Parks
The Emporia Recreation Commission will next convene for its regular monthly meeting in December.
