[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6501345,"mediaKeyId","5600918-ac0f0d3cb3dc738d8cab144742750ed1","parentId",5600918,"title","Selma advisory board urges fee, outreach and staffing fixes after low youth sports turnout","audioSeconds",63,"startMs",1862000,"endMs",1925000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600918-ac0f0d3cb3dc738d8cab144742750ed1&start=1862&end=1925","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600918-ac0f0d3cb3dc738d8cab144742750ed1/thumbnail_1862000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6501345/Selma/Johnston-County/North-Carolina/Selma-advisory-board-urges-fee-outreach-and-staffing-fixes-after-low-youth-sports-turnout","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501345-6d00c19094986aad659e467ad3436370/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193454&Signature=nm2wHObYn0WyByCWy~gwWW8LCEdg0qs3k5~jqf~RBtwWtIJ5co09FYgV~7Om22Bb9AobSz1JYLO1SL1L36kqCARc7RkPTVO1d6Y7tnIGWSfKAAQaycBc0x0Tklliy6YEErzl4eSQLYqzrJoXH9b7tjPKr4eqKPdG~BnjlhHJm0FL9QflteGvMqVsYhITqnclEcQTOXqofjZsARKabKdMzBXCEWayewnbSGr1BKpLokPoWwkVDO3ynfYuyzqNlCFj6j5fM1TtpImez5Q89XZ96tv5sYGytAPBEWmMV5yWeFHxQFYECAOqI-QQu~GaG4qXDYdTZxj0f~sH3rQFHZCiLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Selma","date","2025-08-19T22:56:04.283Z","article","Board members, council and residents spent a large portion of the Aug. 19 Selma Recreation Advisory Board meeting pressing for changes to how youth sports are priced, promoted and managed after officials reported declining registrations in several programs.

Board members said indoor soccer remains the town’s strongest program, but basketball, football and other offerings have seen decreased participation. One board member said the town “needs to get a standing operating procedure” for registration and program delivery to reduce last‑minute purchases and provide consistency for families. “We shouldn't be buying jerseys last minute,” the board member said.

A resident who identified herself at the meeting said registration information is hard to find online. “The information is not easily accessible to those who do not know where to find it,” the resident said. Another board member and council members said the current fee schedule may be priced above comparable nearby towns — Smithfield and Pine Level were cited — and suggested the council consider sponsorships, scholarships or other subsidy programs to lower barriers for local families.

Board members asked staff for a cost breakdown of athletics and a proposed schedule for registration communications and signage. A staff member said they were working to document schedules and flyers for a private partner, Carolina Thunder, and acknowledged that some Sunday training sessions and early sessions had already occurred without wide public notice. The board asked staff to provide a clearer schedule and to share the information publicly so families can plan.

Members expressed frustration about staff turnover and process changes that reduced the board’s ability to advise. One long‑serving board member said she had seen four directors in four years and that the board was “getting really, really, really frustrated” at not receiving requested information. The board also said a recent change to meet quarterly rather than monthly made it harder to respond to rapidly moving projects.

On motions related to routine business, the board voted to table the 2025–26 budget discussion until the next meeting after a motion to postpone carried on a voice vote. The board also approved keeping the current board elections configuration in place.

Council members and staff urged the board to continue providing recommendations and said staff want to work with the advisory board on fee and program design, but also noted that the council ultimately sets fees and must decide whether to subsidize programming.

The board requested the following follow-ups: a detailed athletics cost breakdown, standard operating procedures for registration outreach, a public schedule for Carolina Thunder trainings and an update on tennis courts at the next meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Recreation Advisory Board Meeting 08/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members, council and residents spent a large portion of the Aug. 19 Selma Recreation Advisory Board meeting pressing for changes to how youth sports are priced, promoted and managed after officials reported declining registrations in several programs.","taxTitle","Selma, Johnston County, North Carolina","taxId",60782,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6501350,"Selma wins $500,000 trails grant; county plans trunk trail and depot-area park upgrades",336,129000,465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600918-ac0f0d3cb3dc738d8cab144742750ed1&start=129&end=465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600918-ac0f0d3cb3dc738d8cab144742750ed1/thumbnail_129000.jpg","/articles/6501350/Selma/Johnston-County/North-Carolina/Selma-wins-500000-trails-grant-county-plans-trunk-trail-and-depot-area-park-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501350-92625f6b0adcaa2da126eb6f531421e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193454&Signature=gsVD~jU-zrQDeEVgVseE3uY6WAD6wPhoMBOxXCqe-U4dEjNVyAVBnyJhE3vwzopfpHOYXArwfhi26PJ6XC9rZKEHpOQNusj36Qx4GNJzwmq2-7viR-osQNqc9w~QveP4QZYg7cC99eiftRzC~T6iSGTebQ1BPbxWT2c37Ju1s6FYVH4QTNsM8LXZ0QsvXklKX01TJnR9sfpt4KlPPngFCRPE~xPkjdBPdax5UHw6a9MH7Mplnz~6uKM0N9G1PRf7MRX9sF1smcswJL5q-hbEXH1gA4kJ-Zw888wzSyxMh07U30eGeyBC9iiuY8AYhQD9x3uxk4fLpabV4MVhFLuT5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A council member told the Selma Recreation Advisory Board on Aug. 19 that Selma has acquired more than 95 acres for a Selma Nature Preserve and secured a $500,000 award through the Great State Trails Grant Program to begin trail planning and buildout.

The grant, the council member said, is tied to the land purchase facilitated by TLC and will be matched in part by funds used to acquire the property. The official asked the advisory board to study the town’s multimodal plan and prepare to advise on grant-funded design and construction.

The council member said Johnston County Parks and Recreation and county staff have been closely involved. He described a county “central trunk trail line” planned in the county’s McAdams study that would run down Anderson Street toward I‑95 and beyond to Pine Level, and said Selma’s trail connections can “tack onto” that corridor to link to regional routes including the East Coast Greenway and the Mountain‑to‑Sea Trail. “That is something that Johnston County wants to do and that we can easily tack onto with our trails coming away from the nature preserve and beyond,” the council member said.

The official also reported near-term work to move Michener Station to a pad at Selma Union Station, saying crews have “scraped out and staked out” a landing spot and that the station move is anticipated “in the next 3 to 4 weeks.” He stressed that the Selma Union Depot Park and the nature preserve do not yet have fully developed plans; the $500,000 grant will fund initial planning and designs that the board will be asked to review in the coming months.

Board members were told that Stantec completed a multimodal plan for the town through the North Carolina Department of Transportation and that those materials should be circulated to the advisory board. The council member characterized the Stantec material as guidance from NCDOT “based on what NCDOT knows and based on their expertise,” and said the town must adapt that guidance to local priorities before pursuing funding.

No formal vote or commitment of town funds for specific projects was recorded during the presentation; officials said additional decisions will be required and may need to be made quickly to take advantage of grant opportunities.

Town staff and the advisory board agreed to circulate the multimodal plan and to expect grant‑related design documents to come back to the board for recommendation.

Looking ahead, the council member asked the board to be prepared to advise on the design and use of future trail connections and park upgrades once staff presents more detailed plans and funding proposals.","At the Aug. 19 Selma Recreation Advisory Board meeting, a council member and staff described a newly acquired 95+ acre Selma Nature Preserve, a $500,000 Great State Trails Grant and county-led trail planning that will connect Selma to regional routes; officials said detailed plans are not yet complete and will come back to the board.","actionData","errors"]

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Selma advisory board urges fee, outreach and staffing fixes after low youth sports turnout

Selma wins $500,000 trails grant; county plans trunk trail and depot-area park upgrades