The Covington County Commission on Sept. 23 voted to reconstitute the Covington County Recreation Board under the county’s recreation-board statute and to open and advertise all five seats for application.

County staff said the action is intended to consolidate scattered records and bring the board into compliance with state statute so the commission can make clear appointments and resume appropriations. "That's by statute," a staff presenter said when explaining term staggering required by the statute.

Commission discussion focused on uncertain historical records: staff told the commission that the recreation board had existed in some form since at least 2002, that a youth-activities employee position tied to the arena was created and later not refilled after a third-party lease ended in 2014, and that documentation was incomplete. The staff presentation said the resolution would remove the long-unfilled employee position and clarify that the board is a five-member body with staggered terms (one seat each of one to five years) as required by the statute.

Commissioners debated whether to reappoint existing members or start with a clean slate. A motion to open applications and advertise all five positions carried after a motion from Tommy and a second from Miss Holmes. The commission also directed staff to accept applications and return with appointments by the commission’s first October meeting. "We're gonna advertise it," a commissioner said after the motion.

The staff presentation listed current or previously acting participants who have been associated with the board: Shane Cook, Hunter Harrington, Brian Cox, Andrew Carter, Kyle Nolan and Paul Lawler (liaison). The commission said the new appointments will be made publicly after the application period ends.

The resolution removes the unsettled full-time "youth activities representative" position that staff said has not been refilled for roughly 11 years and instead focuses the county’s authority on the five-member volunteer board. The commission did not set specific appointment names at the Sept. 23 meeting; it approved advertising and reopening the membership for application.