By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

The Columbus County commissioners barely passed a request to apply for a grant to fund upgrades to the county-owned Riegelwood Park.

In a 4-3 vote, commissioners gave Carol Worrell, the county’s parks and recreation director, permission to apply for a $100,000 state grant with a 50 percent county match in the fiscal 07-08 budget year.

Commissioners James Prevatte, Ricky Bullard and Ronald Gore voted against the request because of the money involved.

At first, the board considered tabling the matter. Worrell pointed out that the application is due Jan. 31.

Worrell said that growth is expected in the Riegelwood area, that the park was the only county-operated park not leased but actually owned by the county, that it would bring several ball teams “under one umbrella” and provide additional bathroom facilities, more ball fields and a concession stand.

“Somewhere we have to bite the bullet,” Bullard said, pointing out his concern about spending $50,000. “There is a point where we have to stop.

“It would be much easier to vote yes,” Bullard said.

Prevatte said if the commissioners were not tight with the budget now they would pay later.

Commissioners Amon McKenzie, Bill Memory, Lynwood Norris and Chairman Sammie Jacobs suggested applying for the grant and keeping the option open to reject it if they could not meet the match.

Worrell suggested reducing the request by cutting part of the project out of the plans. She said the county had a good chance of being awarded the grant.

“With a four-to-three vote, I would think they would give it to someone else,” County Manager Jim Varner said.

In other financial matters: Varner gave a brief departmental update to the board.

Interim finance officer Leo Hunt will conduct a financial review of the water department. He said he is going to look at the department to see where the county can do better.

Hunt said that he had questions about why some adjustments were being made and why receivables seem to be getting out of balance. He said he will work with the department on setting up operational procedures and that the staff is working well with him.

Gore asked that the county library look into applying for e-rate grants to pay communication and telephone expenses. He pointed out the library received $56,000 in 2002.

“That’s money we need to get in the county,” Gore said. “We need to get someone to apply for this.”

Library Director Morris Pridgen said the following day that the library had applied for the grants for several years but had not received funding.

Gore also asked Varner for water department information and countywide salary information.
“I need to see the salary schedule paid in July of last year and what they are being paid now,” Gore said.