The board’s primary concern was the substantial costs incurred from staff overtime during youth tournaments. The data presented during the meeting showed that in 2025, five tournaments had led to a total staff invoice of $3,793.52. The breakdown of costs revealed that full-time staff were billed at $56 per hour for regular hours and $69 for overtime, while part-time staff rates were $20 per hour with overtime at $29. Notably, 90% of costs were attributed to overtime. The board expressed concern about the difficulty in finding part-time staff willing to work weekends, which often necessitated the use of full-time staff and subsequently increased costs.

Several board members voiced their unease with this financial model, emphasizing the burden it placed on community organizations. One member noted that the department’s shift in responsibilities to these organizations had resulted in them shouldering more maintenance costs. The member remarked, “Five tournaments $3,800 is a significant amount,” and urged for a more sustainable approach to field maintenance to reduce overtime costs.

The discussion extended to the perceived imbalance in how different organizations were treated concerning facility usage. There was a sentiment that organizations such as the BBBA did not receive the same favorable terms as larger entities like the YMCA and the school district. This discrepancy prompted suggestions to consider contracts that could offer reduced rates for field maintenance, thereby easing the financial strain on organizations hosting tournaments.

In response to these concerns, the board resolved to schedule a workshop in January to further explore youth and adult tournament fees. This decision was made unanimously. Alongside this, the board tabled the approval of the adult tournament staffing fee and structure until after the workshop, emphasizing the need for more information and discussion before finalizing any decisions.

The board also discussed the contracts with the YMCA and community education for 2026 programming. A particular concern raised was the organizations’ responsibility to report registration numbers and communicate any potential cancellations due to low sign-ups. Staff assured that revisions had been made to the contracts, including specific requirements for communication about program scheduling and changes. The board approved these contract agreements unanimously after a brief discussion.

In other matters, staff provided updates on the condition of pleasure and hockey rinks, noting that while most rinks were performing well, issues persisted at Memorial Field due to concrete melting. A member expressed frustration over ongoing problems with the hockey rink and urged staff to promptly address these issues. They also recommended reaching out to the city of Aiken for insights into their successful resolution of similar issues.

As the meeting drew to a close, members acknowledged the upcoming departure of board member Kara Schaefer, recognizing her seven years of service and contributions to significant park board initiatives. Additionally, a specific issue was raised concerning a downed tree branch obstructing the sidewalk at Gregory Park, with a suggestion made to address the situation to improve pedestrian access.