Wednesday, November 27, 2002
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Wednesday, November 27, 2002 |
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Tyrone recreation will conduct background checks on coaches and volunteers By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Homeland security has to start at home. The town of Tyrone will be conducting background checks of all managers, coaches and volunteers involved in youth sports, starting with baseball and softball. They will also do background checks for anybody that does anything through the recreation department, including yoga instructors, dance teachers and more. The Tyrone Youth Baseball and Youth Softball Associations signed a Park use Agreement that would require background checks by Southeastern Security Consultant, Inc., which is affiliated with the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. Other local sports organizations conduct background checks through the Sheriff's department or Marshal's department which tend only to look for crimes committed in Georgia. The background checks for Tyrone will be extensive, looking nationwide to see if any of these crimes have been committed: simple battery of a minor, aggravated battery of a minor, cruelty to children, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, felony violation of any controlled substance act, murder, felony murder, any alcohol violation within the last five years and crimes of moral turpitude. The inital cost for the background checks will be between $3,600-$3,800 but the town and the sports associations will absorb the costs and registration fees will not be raised. The background checks will be good for a two year period. There is an appeal process through the recreation department. The appeal would then be heard by an appeal committee made up of the mayor, the town manager and the town attorney. Registration for baseball and softball in Tyrone will take place in January and February and background checks will begin then. The company promises a turnaround of two to five days. "Tyrone is not a small town anymore, it is growing" said Tyrone Baseball Association president Beth Higbie. "You don't know everybody anymore andthat is why this is necessary."
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