Stowsentry.com - No last-minute cuts made on golf course, parks department

by Mike Lesko

Associate Editor

Stow -- Expenses at Fox Den Golf Course will not be cut by 3 percent in 2010.

Funding for the Stow Parks and Recreation Department will not be cut 3 percent across the board this year either.

Those two proposed last-minute changes to the Stow budget, suggested by Councilman Mike Rasor, were voted down by City Council March 11.

Councilman Joe Hicken also supported both of the proposals, while Councilman Matt Riehl supported the Fox Den proposal.

Rasor initially suggested a 10 percent cutback in the Parks Department but later changed it to 3 percent.

While discussing his proposed cuts, Rasor said, "Why set the bar so low that they can jump over it? Why not set the bar high?"

"Roads and safety before parks," Rasor added. "That's my stance. The primary duty of a city is to have good roads."

About 100 people were on hand at Stow Council Chambers.

Resident after resident spoke publicly about how they wanted the parks and rec programs maintained, about the pluses of Bow Wow Beach Dog Park, about how summer programs help keep kids out of trouble, about quality of life and about keeping Stow as a place where people want to live.

Council Vice President Sara Drew, who insisted on maintaining the parks and recreation programs, said, "It is irresponsible to single out one department" for cuts, adding that the goal is to save money citywide.

Nick Wren, director of the Parks and Rec Department, said a 10 percent cut, if approved, would mean laying off three full-time employees, which represents 25 percent of his staff.

Wren said cuts have already been made at the golf course including reducing the number of seasonal employees, adjusting the mowing practices, having a two-week unpaid furlough for full-time employees and functioning with one less full-time employee.

Mayor Karen Fritschel said, "I believe we do not need to overreact about the budget. This is an attack toward the parks and Fox Den, and I don't think we should be doing that."

Fritschel added that it is "completely unrealistic" to believe that the golf course, if sold, would always remain as a golf course.

Finance Director John Baranek said, "The budget that the mayor put forward is fair. It treats the departments and the employees fairly. We don't do things drastically. We need to be conscientious in what we do."

Drew added that the proposed cuts would "dramatically affect people's lives."

Drew said while some proposed cuts may not sound like a lot, "We are talking about people's jobs and city services.

"We should not be cavalier about this," Drew said.

E-mail: mlesko@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3917