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This morning got me thinking. What do we need as a director of recreation of Dade County. It seems the commision is only considering someone that coaches a little football and can get along with people. Ted said it is more than mowing grass. To this I agree. This is why I don't agree this decision needs to be rushed. In this economy we could probably get a very qualified person for this position. First I believe this person needs to be more well versed in outdoor recreation and have a greater vision than baseball, soccer, and football. We need someone who has the vision to make the county recreation more diverse in it's recreation activities without increasing the cost. One example would be to partner with sorba to build a mountain bike set of trails behind the four fields. After this looking at other places. Seeing about possible activities in hiking, caving, mountain climbing, sponsering bike rides just to name a few. I hate to saw this but I can think of Dusty Rumley to be one. Dusty worked at such places a Camp Lookout. I know he likes to cave I have been with him. Another name that comes to mind is Paul Flatt. Paul was leading some high adventure stuff. I don't even know if they are looking but we have so much more to offer in Dade than Soccer. I say this as my daughter is about to sign up for soccer, but I want her recreation experience to be much more than that growing up than Soccer and Softball. That tends to be all we think about. Let's hope the commisioners take their time and pick someone more diverse than a dipping or tabacco chewing football coach to run our recreation in Dade County.

Dusty Rumley? Give me a BREAK! This kid has lived off this County long enough. Time for the Real World to enter his life. I mean come on.... I'm sick of seeing that last name on ever County and City Payroll because of the name. This County don't "OWE" that name anymore than they owe other names. That's part of the Good Ole Boys system.. Ever look at who's name is used on County Payroll?

But I bet a NAME will get the JOB! Ow shucks, I forgot, I might get busted for gambling....

No I was being serious. He is really a high adventure type person. That being said another good name would be Smitty. He is at rerirement age. He has coached for like 17 years and gets along great with kids. If we were looking for some stability he would be one. Monty Dikerson had great ideas when he was working for the park. He would be another good one. I am just hoping that they are opening their eyes to get someone good and not rush this thing through before the public even knows about it. I just told Smitty about it and he didn't even know. Like I said about they need to advertise. I would even say in the Times Free Press. Some of us don't get the Sentinel every week but we get the times free press every day.

I say that we just hire temps. till we see if Mr. Swader is gonna be happy with his new job. I mean if it's not just what he thought it was gonna be then maybe the Commission can re-hire him again. I mean after all it's "the days of our lives"!

We don't want to advertise, someone might come along who is "Qualified" and not "From around Here" and we've already got our mind made up as to who were're gonna hire... You can bet..... It's one of "Tha Boys"!

You all may still think I am crazy but we need some sort of evaness this is why I propose Monty. If you sit down under the tree or are just floating after the big slam dunk on the river you will realize we need some sort of consistisy in Dade. If you don't belive it then just keep up promoting the GOB's.

This may be an opportunity to do something bold. Since 90% of the job is grounds maintenance why not outsource it to a private firm and then turn over any recreation duties to a Parks and Recreation authority? They could then run the park's activities and eventually even pay the ground maintenance company.

Since 90% of the job is grounds maintenance

This is where Ted on the radio said yesterday that it was MORE than just that. You need someone who was qualified to deal with the public. They have to be able to handle the pressure from "Soccer Moms" and such as that. He said they already had over 20 apps on the job so that tells me that it is a very important job here in Dade County since they have not advertised it nor will they from what he said other than post it on the board. He went on to say they MUST fill it very soon because they Church League has already started it's games. Now for me, I know for a FACT that some Churches had a problem paying for using the feilds. This is where I think they theory of paying as you go will set this County on it's ear.... If the Church Leagues have to pay for their upkeep on the feilds and use of it, they will raise (well you know)! Yea, i know they have to pay a little now, but to cover the expense of the maintaince company will raise that cost even more... Besides they will just say it'ts a time for fellowship and they shouldn't be paying anything now.....

I wonder what the position will pay?