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Public backlash after county circulates new travel-team and tournament fee schedule; board vows follow-up with leagues
Summary
Parents, coaches and volunteers objected at a board meeting to a new fee schedule for travel teams and tournament hosts that the parks office circulated; commissioners and parks staff defended the policy as needed to protect heavily used facilities and said they will meet with league representatives to work through implementation details.
Dozens of parents, coaches and volunteer league leaders attended the Columbia County board meeting to oppose a recently circulated parks fee schedule that would charge outside travel teams and tournament hosts rental and maintenance fees for county athletic facilities.
Speakers from multiple travel and rec teams described the schedule as a potential barrier for local athletes. “These aren't just games. They're lifelines for many families,” Jessica Robinson said, arguing that added monthly or per-practice fees would price some families out of travel sports.
Speakers cited concerns about how fees were calculated, who would receive collected revenue, and the effect on teams that operate on thin budgets. One parent said travel teams already pay substantial season fees (she cited $650 as an example for two seasons) and warned that increased local costs would push teams to neighboring counties and reduce local tournament revenue.
Parks director Clint explained the county’s reasoning: facilities are receiving heavy and repeated use—rec leagues, travel teams, tournaments and freestanding vendors—creating maintenance and safety issues. Clint told the board that the county had surveyed other jurisdictions: several counties charge hourly or monthly field rental rates and fees for lights, lining, and event maintenance. Parks staff said tournament hosts previously paid field fees and that the new fees formalize charges for lights and tournament maintenance that were inconsistent in the past.
Clint said travel-team charges were intended to curtail excessive or commercialized use by outside organizations and to reserve fields for groups that license facilities through the county. He emphasized that revenue collected from tournaments and rentals will be returned to the facility accounts to cover maintenance and repairs.
Board members and staff acknowledged communication gaps in how the schedule was announced and said they will meet with league leaders, coaches and parents to refine implementation. Chairman Tim Murphy and other commissioners urged leagues and parks staff to work together on a practical schedule and to consider exceptions for purely local teams and volunteer coaches.
Outcome: No immediate fee change was rescinded at the meeting; commissioners asked parks staff to meet with league representatives to resolve implementation questions and to return with recommended adjustments to the schedule and procedures.
