GARNETT — About $25,000 of a fund typically used to pay for equipment and upgrades will be used to pay the salaries of part-time Garnett Recreation Center employees as part of a budget amendment recently approved by Garnett city commissioners. The Anderson County Review reported salaries for two part-time employees at the recreation center weren’t part of the 2011 budget because city officials expected to be able to run the center, which opened at mid-year, strictly with volunteers. However, increasing attendance at the center and a difficulty in finding volunteers led to the hiring of two part-time employees. Because the employees work part-time, they are not eligible for city benefits such as health insurance. One of the part-time employees, Charley Caron, wrote a letter to the editor to the Review that it’s better to have paid employees running the facility because of accountability, especially because rec center employees must handle money. The city hopes recreation fees will eventually cover the salaries but will make up the difference until that happens.
Monday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.
