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PRESS RELEASE August 7, 2012
GDRD Honored with Safety Award The Special District Risk Management Authority announced the Georgetown Divide Recreation District was selected to receive the 2012 McMurchie Excellence in Safety Award.  The award was based on GDRD’s safety record for the last five years, longevity in the program and a high score on Credit Incentive Points the past year.  The Credit Incentive Points also brought the District a 10% reduction in premium.
GDRD Board Chairperson, Ken Spencer said “I am pleased to see that the hard work staff and the Board has put in on safety is being recognized.  We have worked hard at this to keep our budget under control while we have been adding facilities and programs.”
The SDRMA is an alliance member with the California Special Districts Association and the CSDA Finance Corporation together serving various types of special districts, large and small.
The award will be presented as part of the California Special Districts Association Annual Conference representing over 1000 California special districts.  While the GDRD is not usually able to send a representative to the educational Conference, part of receiving the award will pay for expenses for a District representative to attend this year.  “This will be an additional opportunity for the District to gain additional information and ideas to bring back to the District.  It is a double win for us,” Spencer added.  The Board will determine the District’s representative at its August 27th Board meeting.

GDRD Awarded Grant to Improve Beam Field

Early in March, the Recreation Supervisor, Heather Schelske, applied for a grant from The Greater Sacramento Softball Association for improvements to Beam Field. GSSA announced that as a valued member of GSSA GDRD has been awarded the grant in the amount of $2415.70. The amount requested is based on the cost of materials and equipment to resurface the infield as provided by the GDRD Maintenance Supervisor, Mark Koontz.

Background Information: Beam Field was created and established in 1986. The land was donated by the Beam family to create an adult softball field due to the lack of facilities for adult sports.  For many years it was operated and managed by local adults who eventually formed a non profit agency called Divide Recreation Association (DRA). 

In 2003 the land was turned over to the Georgetown Divide Recreation District (GDRD) and co-managed by the DRA and GDRD. GDRD secured grant funding to put in lights and to redo the turf. With general maintenance costs, the new lighting expenses and the turn in the economy, the DRA was unable to continue its management role and gave GDRD full responsibilities in 2005. In 2009 GDRD was able to repair the covers of our dugouts and provide proper equipment holders for bats, balls and helmets to reduce or prevent accidents with grant funds received from GSSA.

Project:  The Beam Field in-field dirt has not been replaced since 2007. The safety of players is becoming a concern. Under current conditions, we are finding the dirt is getting so low rocks are surfacing and these rocks which could prove hazardous. We are also finding with the continuous dragging of the field in the same direction one side of the field is becoming higher then the other and needs to be leveled out. 

To bring the field back to standards we will need the delivery of the infield dirt,  a two day tractor rental for leveling the field,  9 stud female base brackets and rental of a roller to compact the dirt. A materials list is attached. 

In the spring we have our partnering organizations Divide Little League and Gold Country Girls Softball use the field heavily. Immediately after their season, the GDRD adult summer season starts with adult men’s, women’s and co-ed leagues. All of these leagues have players who frequently slide head and/or feet first into the bases. 

Benefits:  With the heavy traffic experienced on Beam Field, new dirt for resurfacing the in-field will help significantly reduce potential accidents. It will give the players a level playing field that they deserve. Further, it will return the red beauty to the in-field adding to the beautification of the field. 

The GSSA grant program allows them to help local programs. They will make an official presentation to the GDRD Board in April. Hopefully, the improvements will be completed in time for the start of GDRD Adult Softball season.

“HELPING HANDS” work day at Georgetown Park & Buffalow Hill Trail

Mark Koontz, Interium Operations Supervisor:   I have worked with a number of organizations on volunteer projects, with varying degrees of success. I am pleased to report that the work day; “HELPING HANDS” (a national day of service organized by the Church of The Latter Day Saints) was a huge success!

Joan Newton contacteed GDRD with the possibility of a dozen or so volunteers from the local chapter of the church could do some clean-up in one of our parks. On Saturday, April 28th the group showed up with well over 40 people!  

Part of the group worked at Georgetown Park all day long on many different projects. They rebuilt the bench and drinking fountain base by the play area. They cleaned up, roofed and painted the pump house at the ADA parking area. They also cleaned out and painted the inside of the bathrooms on the back side of the park, (covered all the graffiti that was on the walls and doors.) There was an army of weed eaters humming all day that cleared the entire creek area and fence lines.

GDRD Board member, Chris Martinez organized a group of the youth to clean up the Buffalo Hill Path from Main street all the way to the Mar-Val parking lot. They weeded and trimmed trees and cleared the path of undergrowth and pine needles. We hauled three trailer loads of brush from the trail area. Wow did those kids work hard!    

On behalf of GDRD, I would like to extend a special thanks to all the volunteers and the LDS church for their exceptional service to the community.