(WDNG) – City officials insist a proposed plan to shift parks and recreation personnel will not lead to the closure of a west Anniston community center. Anniston City Manager Brian Johnson on Wednesday said an expected $50,000 savings in fiscal year 2016 could happen by moving the director of the Wiggins Community Center to another facility and dropping that position.
Johnson says the city currently has four community center director positions but one of them is no longer necessary at Wiggins. He says one of the directors recently retired and that position will likely be filled by current Wiggins Community Center director Carol Bush.
Monday’s meeting of the Anniston City Council was well attended by residents living near Wiggins who believe the center would be closed under the proposal. Johnson said at the meeting that the proposed budget plan would not affect any of the existing programs offered by the city at Wiggins other than a 3-hour “free play” held in the evenings. Anniston Parks and Recreation director Steven Folks said it was never a plan to close the center.
Ward 2 Council member David Reddick on Tuesday said he believes the cut in spending would effectively close Wiggins. A proposed fiscal year 2016 budget is expected to be officially presented to council early next month.