A group of angry parents and coaches from East Ridge’s youth sports leagues are threatening to leave the city’s Camp Jordan complex after the City Council voted 4-1 to create a Parks and Recreation Department to oversee their associations.
During the special meeting Tuesday night, the council voted to budget $50,000 for a parks and recreation supervisor, who will oversee the soccer, baseball and softball leagues.
Dozens of league participants showed up to protest the ordinance, while a cadre of East Ridge residents came to support a move they believe will save taxpayer dollars.
Though the city’s notice of the meeting invited the public to attend, it was held it in a conference room where only about 20 onlookers could crowd in before city officials said fire code wouldn’t allow any more. The others lingered in the hall, or outside of the building.
Many league members said the city should not be at the helm of a grass-roots operation that was built by countless volunteers.