Recreation registration to go online
Returning players can pay on Web site
Registration for fall sports will soon be a click away for children who have participated in Columbia County Recreation Department leagues.
On Wednesday, the Columbia County Community and Leisure Services department will unveil an online sports registration and payment system for children who have played sports in past seasons through the recreation department.
"The whole focus of this is to make it more convenient to register to participate in recreational programs at Patriots" and other county parks, said Columbia County Community and Leisure Services Director Barry Smith.
The registration site will be linked to the county's Web site: www.columbiacountyga.gov, and parents may pay online with a credit card. Computers also will be available at Patriots Park.
Parents of children who have not played sports in Columbia County will still have to register their children the first time at Patriots Park and must bring a copy of the child's birth certificate, Smith said.
The registration system is part of a new software package that will enable the department to organize teams, schedule games and practices for teams in any sport at all county parks. It will help Patriots Park track its gym memberships and revenue flow, Smith said.
"It will be an efficient system for us to use in terms of accountability," Smith said.
A 2005 audit by Augusta accounting firm Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, said the recreation department was lacking "a sound internal control structure'' as it relates to the assessment, collection and recording of fees.
In some cases, auditors found many people with expired membership cards to Patriots Park appear to continue to use the facility without renewing their membership.
Columbia County Recreation Department Director Charlie Beale said at the time that an antiquated computer system prevented his department from deleting former members from their membership rolls.
In addition to online registration, scheduling and accounting applications, Smith said the software will enable the recreation department to notify members of fee changes, fees due and other information.