Dec 16, 2004 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – During a brief agenda meeting Wednesday, the Greene County Commissioners heard from county recreation director Jake Blaker about new programs scheduled for the winter and spring months across the region. “We have put together these programs after the end of our countywide look at recreational needs,” said Blaker, noting the programs for the winter and spring months are just the first step in addressing “deficiencies” in the county’s recreational plan. “We are very proud to start to correct these issues.”

Blaker said the programs will offer area residents of all ages a wide variety of classes and workshops and added that the county has teamed up with the American Red Cross to provide CPR training as well.

“We will offer all the training that you used to have to leave the county to do,” Blaker said.

The scheduled programs include aerobics, baby-sitting courses, wedding survival dance courses, massage therapy classes, CPR training and others, with all being offered at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

According to Mackin Engineering, who was hired this spring by the county to help conduct public surveys and assess the condition of the county’s recreation system, 2000 census statistics showed a countywide population of 40,672, with more than 69 percent of those residents in rural areas and a growth rate of about 3.2 percent over the last 40 years.

Mackin distributed about 1,600 surveys regarding parks and recreation, with a 19 percent rate of return.

County officials said residents focused on creating additional recreational programs for all age groups across the county, including the development of an ice-skating rink and other sports fields and also found that nearly half of the residents polled said they travel more than 15 miles for recreational purposes.

Commissioner Pam Snyder said, “the county needed a blueprint,” for recreation and added that area youth will benefit from the new programs.

“Kids in this county are starved for things to do,” Snyder said. “We want to keep providing opportunities for the citizens of Greene County.”

Snyder said the winter/spring programs are just “phase one” of a larger project to attempt to attract business and rejuvenate local communities through the recreation department.

For more information regarding the winter and spring programs, contact the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.

In other matters, the commissioners released a breakdown of the county’s property taxes for the coming year.

Commissioners did not raise taxes for 2005 and will appropriate the incoming funds exactly as they did last year.

Of the 6.42 millage rate, 5.77 mills will be used for the general fund, .59 mils toward the county’s debt service and .06 mills toward the library fund.

In other business, the county is slated to appoint two people to the Housing Authority Board and three people to the Tax Abatement Board today.