PICKENS COUNTY — The newly appointed Pickens County Recreation Fund board of trustees met for its first formal meeting Monday, marking the end of a tumultuous journey by Council to ensure accountability and transparency in how rec funds are spent.

The creation of the board came on the heels of Pickens County Council freezing the rec fund back in January after allegations emerged revolving around the then called Liberty Civic Auditorium.

Previously, rec funds were divvied up evenly between the districts with Council members having sole discretion on how the funds were spent. The creation of the board effectively caps the authority of any single Council member by requiring a full council vote on expenditures at the recommendations of the board.

Patrick Warren from Clemson, Clay Courts of Liberty, Dale Holloway of Dacusville, Nicole Hemphill of Easley and Scott Snape representing the Six Mile and Central area were appointed by Council to serve on the board, each representing the interests of their respective districts.

The seat for Pickens has not yet been filled, but Pickens County attorney Ken Roper stated an appointee could be reasonably expected within the next 30 days.

Designed mainly as an organizational meeting, the agenda was brief and following a call to order, officer positions within the board were filled.

Holloway was elected chairman with Hemphill filling the spot as vice chairman. The position of board secretary went to Warren with Snape and Counts forming a subcommittee tasked with preparing the board’s bylaws.

According to the ordinance that formed the Board passed by County Council, the rec fund board will present recommendations for fund expenditures once a year, coinciding with the planning of the County’s budget.

The board would only have the authority to directly authorize the use of funds in case of an emergency, said Roper.

The board’s creation is a return to the County’s original policy on how rec funds were managed.

According to County documents, council had previously established and appointed a Recreational Advisory Committee, and published a procedure manual that detailed the method and manner of awarding recreational funding in 1993.

That process remained unchanged until 2006 at which time, council allowed the appointments of the members of the Committee to expire — and then assumed duties associated with the Recreation Fund decision making themselves.

“I think this is a good move,” said Chairman Holloway. “When Carl (Councilman Hudson) asked me to serve, I was happy to help.”

The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Conference Room at the Pickens County Administration Facility.

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By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@championcarolinas.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.