SIX MILE —Six Mile Town Council will be appointing a new recreation department board, but council members want the public to know council isn’t interested in taking over the town’s recreation program.

Council voted unanimously, with Councilwoman Wilma Burkett absent, Tuesday to amend the recreation department’s by-laws to allow council to appoint recreation board members.

That authority initially lay with Pickens County Council, but members of that body have stated they don’t want to be involved with recreation departments on a municipal level, Mayor John Wade said.

Recreation Board member Gene Sanders spoke about the issue at last month’s council meeting, but council tabled the matter until they could receive more information.

Members of the public involved with the recreation department urged council to appoint a new board, stating it would allow the recreation department and its programs to move forward.

“I’m a little concerned about the direction that the Six Mile Rec is heading,” said Steve Durham. “At this time, we don’t have, at this time, a functioning, governing body to over see the Rec.

“I’m here to ask you to appoint one,” he continued. “I feel it’s in the best interests of our children and the future of the Rec itself.”

Steve Durham said he felt the lack of a board is effecting program participation.

Recreation Board member Daniel Durham also urged council to take action, citing a lack of communication between board member and the public and between individual board members.

“To my knowledge, there has not been a board decision made since January of last year,” he said.

As an example of the lack of communication, Daniel Durham said he was unaware that Sanders had resigned from the board last month until he was told during Tuesday’s meeting.

“I’m being told for the first time that I’m the only member of the Six Mile Recreation Board,” Durham said.

Durham himself then resigned, stating he was no longer interested in being a part of the recreation program or serving on the board.

He suggested council undertake an interview process with those interested in serving on the board.

“Elect those with a long-term interest in the recreation department,” he said.

Council isn’t interested in taking over the day-to-day operations of the department, council agreed.

The recreation department director will still create the department’s budget, which will be submitted to council.

“We’re just going to appoint the board to get the recreation department flowing right,”

Wade said.

Councilman David Yongue agreed.

“They’ll still be doing organized sports and all that,” he said. “Nothing will be stopping.”

Yongue said that potential board members shouldn’t have to have children participating in the program to participate, and that they need not live within town limits, just in the Six Mile area.

Council decided to take 30 days to compile a slate of those interested in serving on the board, with the hopes of appoint a slate within 60 days.

Those interested in serving on the recreation board should call Town Hall at 868-2653.