Youths in Great Bend Recreation Commission baseball and softball leagues can’t run home when a batter is swinging at a pitch, GBRC Sports Director Chris Umphres said.
“Safety of players is the intent of the rule,” Umphres told the GBRC Board when it met Monday. But it has also created some confusion for coaches, because another rule says stealing bases, including home plate, is permitted.
At Monday’s meeting, new wording was approved to make everything clear.
It’s OK to steal home if the batter is clearly bunting, or if there was a wild pitch or a passed ball.
The board also approved an additional $598 for liability insurance for the next year, above the $36,597 approved in April. GBRC Director Diann Henderson said the amount was quoted by the vender, but the underwriter issues the actual policy. The underwriter changed the final amount after consolidating line items in the bill, and the board opted to pay the difference.
Work on next year’s budget has begun, and a time line was approved. The budget will be published July 2 and a budget hearing will be set for July 14 during the regular meeting, so that everything can be completed before the Aug. 1 deadline. The board will also hold an extra meeting at 4 p.m. on June 30 to work on the budget.
Henderson shared the results of recent surveys of the board and administration, used to set priorities for the next budget. Priorities were set in five categories:
• continued fiscal management
• sustain and provide funding for technology
• diversity representation for the board and staff
• enhance and promote programs and activities
• ensure adequate facilities and supplies for current and future programming needs.
Some of the items that ranked high were creating direct payroll deposit; increasing pay for part-time and seasonal employees; purchasing software and hardware, especially in the continued push to become paperless; purchase a copier; increase staff; update the website; add a handicap accessible door to the Great Bend Recreation Center and a handicap accessible counter in the office; and enhance fitness programs.
“With that in mind, we will begin developing our budget,” she said.
In other news, Henderson said the GBRC has received a $1,000 donation from Dr. Doris Butler, daughter of Carl and Dorothy Soden, from Dorothy’s estate as a memorial for Carl. The money is to be used for youth programs.
Carl Soden was the first Great Bend Recreation Commission director, a post he held from 1948-81. He died in 2008, and Dorothy Soden died Aug. 21, 2013. She was 92 years old.
Enrollment in summer GBRC programs is underway. Leisure Program Coordinator Garet Fitzpatrick said this year’s children’s theater production will be “Treasure Island: Young Pirates of the Caribbean” and will be performed July 11 at the Crest Theater. Twenty-seven actors are taking part.
Umphres said GBRC also plans to host a British Soccer Camp June 23-27 at the Cavanaugh Soccer Complex. This is billed as the No. 1 soccer camp in the country, with coaches trained in the United Kingdom. GBRC used to host the camp annually, and tried to bring it back last year. However, it was canceled due to lack of enrollment.