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Members of the Decatur County commissioners gathered on Tuesday evening for their second meeting of the month. Following the invocation, pledge and approval of minutes, the first item of new business was an update on the Recreation Authority by Executive Director Joel Holmes. According to Holmes, the Authority has expanded its efforts at promoting itself, including through an increased social media presence, increasing online registration, as well as increased advertising, both with the Post-Searchlight, as well as with Memorial Hospital and Manor. The Authority has also begun promoting growth programs for its staff; on that note, the Authority’s community development manager, Ana Baty, was appointed to the Georgia Recreation and Parks public policy committee, as well as the chair-elect for the GRP’s recreation programmer’s network.

Also, according to Holmes, the Authority signed a five-year contract with Pepsi. While the Authority will only serve Pepsi products, Pepsi in turn will donate $1,000 annually to the Authority’s scholarship fund; additionally, the Authority will receive a $4 annual rebate on each case of product sold, as well as commission on sales made from Pepsi vending machines.

In terms of growth, the Authority saw a 51% increase in registration for its different programs this year, with each individual program seeing some increase. In other news of the Authority’s growth, Holmes spoke about its new track and field program that also began this year.

Holmes also discussed the Authority’s new indoor recreation facility, which he stated is still on track to be finished by this December.

Lastly on the commissioner’s agenda was the reappointment of Rev. John Thomas to his position with DFCS, as well as the approval of errors and releases.

The next county commissioner meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8 at 9:00 AM.