
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 22, 1990                   TAG: 9005190199
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: DUBLIN                                LENGTH: Medium

RECREATION PROGRAM COMMENDED TO COUNCIL

The town's two representatives to the interim Pulaski County Recreation Commission expressed strong support last week for the countywide concept and urged Dublin Town Council to stick with the new program.

Despite dissatisfaction voiced at last month's council meeting over the makeup of the countywide recreation board, Al Carden of the Dublin Recreation Department said he and the town's other representative, Vernon Crouch, "highly recommend we stay on the commission."

"You feel comfortable with it now?" asked Mayor Benny Keister.

"Well, maybe, but I'm willing to take a gamble," Carden replied.

"I think, overall, looking at it in the future, I think it probably would be the best thing for the county," Carden added.

Dublin, Pulaski and Pulaski County have committed $140,000 to pay for the recreation program duing a one-year trial beginning July 1.

The interim commission will try to centralize programming and administration for various Pulaski County community recreation programs as well as those in Dublin and Pulaski.

However, communities could continue local recreation programs if they chose. And Carden made it clear the Dublin Recreation Department is not going to be swallowed up by the countywide program.

"We want to maintain Dublin Recreation as is," he told Council. "We don't want to do anything that's going to jeopardize Dublin Recreation," he said. `But we won't turn down their [the county-wide program's] money and their help, if they want to give it."

Crouch characterized the interim commission members as "very knowledgeable people," but conceded "at first, we were a little bit angry at the way they did pick the commission."

"We can really run a great commission, I feel," he added.

"Even though it's only on a one-year trial basis, if it works out, I think it'll be great for the county and for the town of Dublin, too," Crouch said.

"We want to look at what kind of authority we have, once we get into this," Carden cautioned Council.

Carden said he was asked to be chairman of the 12-member interim commission, but he declined. "I do better where I can sit back and listen," he said.

During public comments, Councilman-elect Colbern Linkous said he still has reservations about the recreation commission. He criticized the commission's $40,000 allocation for salaries as "taking a big dip right off the top."

by CNB