Carbon County Recreation grant provides for new softball lights, refund policy changes

By Sun Advocate

Softball players will be seeing things in a whole new light on the fairground ball parks.
The Carbon County Recreation department recently received a grant to overhaul the lighting on the west Price fields.
According to Frank Ori, assistant director of CCR, since the lights were installed in 1996, players have complained that they were inefficient.
Some complained that the poles were too low and the lights were in people’s eyes, while some even felt that they were a danger.
Late last year several players created a petition, addressing their concerns about the lighting system to Commissioner Bill Krompel.
According to Ori, in February Krompel ordered a study to be done on the lights by CCR with the help of a representative from Musco Lighting Company.
The test indicated that the lights were way below industry standards, he said.
CCR director Steve Christensen, with the help of Dennis Dooley, applied for a grant from the Community Impact Board requesting funds to replace the lights.
The CIB awarded Carbon County $272,000. According to Ori, the money will fund the light project entirely and leave some left over to help to replace the fences at the ball park.
CCR has also implemented a new refund policy. In the past, cash refunds were awarded or credit slips offered.
However, Ori said often times registrants would sign up late for a program and then want a refund when they did not participate.
As a result, a cash refund will no longer be given unless a program is canceled by the recreation staff. The executve director will have the authority to authorize refunds in extreme cases, such as illness or injury to the participant during the early stages of a program.
Participants can still get a credit slip if they choose not to participate in a program. The credit can be applied to any recreation program based on the following criteria:
•Prior to the second game or class, 100 percent of the cost will be credited.
•Prior to the third game or class, 50 percent of the cost will be credited.
•After the third game or class, no credit slips can be issued.
Also no refunds or credits will be made for fees charged as a result of a registration made after a published registration deadline. Adult sports refunds or credits will not be given after the schedules have been made and no refunds or credit will be given to any special event and one day activities, such as river trips or runs.
A portion of the fee can still be waived for some programs for those who qualify.
CCR also renewed their background check policy on all coaches.
“It an old saying but it is better to be safe than sorry, and in today’s world you can never be too careful especially with the children in our commmunities,” Ori commented. “We will make every effort possible to ensure that our participants have the safest enviornment possible.”
The Carbon County Sheriff’s office will be performing the backround checks.