Director's absence has forced city staff to pick up pieces
By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor Warrenton city officials admit the start of the youth baseball and softball leagues has been a trying time for participants. However, they stressed that they are working to improve the situation so the leagues can end on a positive note. All of the leagues and programs currently being played have continued in the absence of Recreation Director Dottie Phillips. City officials said Phillips took a temporary medical leave of absence in late April and aren’t sure when she will return to work. The unfortunate timing, at one of the busiest times of the year, has left city staff scrambling to pick up the pieces, according to city officials. Phillips left when the city was in the process of recruiting and hiring more umpires for games that had been scheduled, as well as finding and scheduling teams for some age divisions that were short on opponents. The city also had to deal with team uniforms being shipped late. “We have problems in recreation,” Terri Thorn, director of operations/finance officer, told The Record. “Those problems can be as small as we have not done a good job of communicating with our participants all the way up to we were ill-prepared for the season to start.”The city is currently running the recreation department with only a secretary, with other staff, particularly administrative assistant/human resources Brandie Walters, assisting. In early April, the city hired two recreation coordinators who were in the process of completing their college degrees. However, one of the new coordinators accepted another job when he started work in Warrenton. Realizing the summer leagues were in trouble, the second position was put on hold. Thorn said the second coordinator was grateful to be contacted and informed that the duties would be different than what was initially planned due to Phillips’ absence. City staff also has been receiving assistance from Gametime Tournaments, according to Thorn. The St. Charles County-based company was already scheduled to host multiple tourneys this summer in Warrenton, but stepped up to offer more help. When the city wasn’t prepared to run the concession stand at the athletic complex, Gametime proposed it take over that responsibility. As part of the arrangement, the city will receive a percentage of the profits. With youth soccer registration currently open, Thorn said Gametime will be managing the fall league so that the city will be better prepared when games begin in September. In addition, Gametime will introduce and run a fall youth softball and baseball league. Thorn said Gametime’s assistance helped a 41-team tournament, scheduled the first weekend following Phillips’ leave, go off without a hitch. They also provide trained umpires for league games. “They have been very beneficial,” Thorn remarked. “Honestly it would not be running as smoothly as it is now. I am very grateful that they were willing to step in and make the most of a season that was doomed from the beginning.” She emphasized that all summer baseball and softball games canceled for inclement weather will be rescheduled. She encourages parents with questions to contact Walters at city hall. “Our plan is to do what we have to do to offer the product the public expects and what they registered for,” Thorn said. The issues with the summer leagues follow a disappointing debut for the Jr. Warriors basketball program. City officials said miscommunication between program organizers, including the school district, and participants caused a number of issues and prompted numerous complaints. To help rectify the situation, the city agreed to refund the $45 fee for those who participated in the first-year program. The total amount the city expected to refund was around $5,355. Moving forward, Mayor Jerry Dyer said maybe it’s time for the city to rethink how the city handles the recreation department. “We never have been able to meet all the demands and needs of the public for recreation,” Dyer remarked. “Maybe go back to the basics and figure out what we do well, start there, and build on it.”
City working to improve summer recreation leagues
