Selma approves Carolina Thunder gym use; board requires same volunteer screening and scheduling protections

The Selma Recreation Advisory Board approved a facilities-use agreement March 19 with Carolina Thunder, an AAU basketball organization, that grants the group access to the Harrison gymnasium in exchange for providing free skill-development sessions (noted as Sunday training) and some financial reporting to the town.

Board members raised questions about potential conflicts with the town’s summer camps and other programs. Staff said the agreement requires Carolina Thunder to submit schedules in advance and that the town maintains multiple facility options to prevent displacement of existing town programs. The agreement language specifies that Carolina Thunder will provide Sunday training sessions open to town participants in lieu of rental fees, and includes a financial-reporting requirement absent from the earlier-drafted Johnston County Football Club version (staff said that was a drafting/timing difference reviewed by counsel).

Board members also asked the town to require that Carolina Thunder volunteers and coaches complete the town’s volunteer background-check application and be disclosed to the town before participating. The board approved the agreement with that addition by voice vote and asked staff to ensure the contract is revised to include identical volunteer screening and notification provisions as added to the football-club agreement.

Staff explained both agreements are intended as one-year, renewable partnerships to build program pipelines and that language can be revised in subsequent renewals if performance or scheduling concerns arise.