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Residents and fitness partners raise concerns about staffing, communication and payments at DeSoto recreation center
Summary
Multiple speakers at the citizens-appearances period said recreation-center partners and coaches are experiencing communication breakdowns, delayed or withheld payments and abrupt program changes since recent staff turnover; callers asked council and management to restore clarity and timely payments.
During the citizens-appearances portion of the meeting a series of recreation-center vendors, coaches and longtime volunteers described reduced communication, delayed payments and unclear membership and program requirements.
Lenora Nori Wyatt, who described herself as a fitness partner at the recreation center, said she was told participants would continue without membership fees but later received notice that members would be required to pay beginning October 2026, adding "that inconsistency creates confusion and erodes trust." Aubreycia (Breezy) Culberson, who teaches yoga classes for low fees, said she has not been paid for sessions and that a combined increase in classroom fees and ARC membership would raise the cost for many students from $50 to roughly $70 monthly. Coach Z (Zodrick Green) said long-standing relationships and previously negotiated court rates are being disrupted and that communication from staff has declined since leadership changes.
Several speakers also expressed broader personnel and morale concerns at the city and criticized how long-serving employees were treated. The mayor and council thanked residents for speaking and noted staff will follow up; no formal council action was taken during the meeting on these citizen requests.
