SOUTHPORT — More than two months after at least $17,000 was discovered missing from the parks and recreation department, the City of Southport’s advisory committee for the department met for the first time to discuss the fate of its programs and facilities.
More than 30 programs and events, and three facilities — the city gym, the senior center, and Jaycee Building — in Southport are closed as the state investigates missing funds. Parks remain open to visitors.
READ MORE: 3 people suspended, 1 resigns in Southport, following probe into missing funds
Southport doesn’t record its parks and rec committee meetings, which Aldermen Robert Carroll is a liaison to and attended on April 28. Carroll said the meeting consisted of discussions about facility management by the city’s community relations department, the reinstatement of department head Heather Hemphill, and a question about what the department’s budget will look like moving forward. He told Port City Daily the committee did not discuss “the elephant in the room” — meaning the State Bureau of Investigations probe underway.
The facilities and programs were first shut down March 11 after tens of thousands of dollars went missing from the parks and recreation department and four administrative team members were put on paid leave. The discovery prompted the SBI to take over the case, which could take more than a year to complete, according to an agency spokesperson; the SBI is looking into previous years to see if money is missing further back than the previous audit.
The city has three employees still on paid leave after former programs director Maureen Moore resigned, including Moore’s two daughters and department head Heather Hemphill. Maintenance staff are still employed with the city to upkeep its facilities and parks, overseen by supervisor Mike McGhee.
Those on paid leave are receiving salaries of $115,992.48, $43,825.60 and $44,470.40, respectively, according to City Manager Noah Saldo.
The facilities are currently being overseen by ChyAnn Ketchum, the public information officer, and Allayna Dail Taylor, the community relations director. Carroll said parks and recreation advisory committee Vice-Chair Stephanie Jackson inquired at the meeting whether the committee could reinstate Hemphill.
According to Carroll, Saldo informed the committee neither they nor the aldermen have authority to do so.
Carroll recounted he told Jackson they needed to “trust the process” and everything would play out as it’s supposed to, with Hemphill hopefully returning to her post as department head.
“Under the City Charter and state statutes, all hiring, termination, suspension, supervision, and all personnel authority rests solely with the City Manager,” Saldo confirmed with Port City Daily.
Despite buildings and programming being closed to the public, the city is still allowing events previously scheduled to take place in parks and recreation facilities. Port City Daily reached out to ask how many pre-approved events and reservations are on the books but did not receive a response from the city.
The fate of future programs and events are up in the air, as the budget for the parks and recreation department has not yet been presented to the aldermen.
Carroll said he asked at the committee meeting what would be budgeted for in fiscal year 2026-2027 for the parks and rec department but didn’t receive an answer. Since Hemphill, who was in charge of parks and rec finances, employees, and facilities, is on paid leave she won’t be doing the budget; instead, Saldo is taking over.
“I do not yet have a final estimate for adjustments to the Parks and Recreation budget,” he informed Port City Daily. “I am still evaluating the funding needed for the upkeep and maintenance of each park facility, including continued investment in the restoration of Franklin Square Park, which has been a multi-year City effort. In addition, I am assessing what level of funding will be appropriate for recreation programs moving forward.”
According to Saldo, the aldermen will see the next fiscal year budget by mid-May.
The 2025-2026 budget cites the department’s expenditures at just more than $1 million, which is about 7% of the city’s overall budget. The department brings in $54,000 in user generated fees, but some aldermen, such as Paul Gross, have argued the department could reduce its spending.
He specifically pointed to the senior programs, noting two are in Southport — not only the city-operated facility but another center overseen by Brunswick County.
“Why are we spending taxpayer money on Southport Parks and Rec for senior citizen programs when the county operates a very robust senior citizen program?” Gross asked rhetorically during a conversation with Port City Daily.
Gross added he was sure the topic would come up in aldermen budget discussions.
Alderman Carroll said he has heard concerns from Southport residents about the department being dissolved altogether.
“Is it going to go away? Is it going to be swallowed up by another department?” Carroll said he is being asked. Carroll was adamant about preserving the department.
Alderman Marc Spencer acknowledged while the city is struggling with revenue, cutting services, especially in the parks and recreation department, would be harmful to the community. He called it the “bread and butter” of Southport.
“That’s what’s important about parks and recreation,” Spencer said. “It’s teaching these kids that Southport loves them, making them want to live here for the rest of their lives. It’s not just daycare.”
Carroll said the before- and afterschool programs and summer camps have been vital for working families in and near Southport. He lamented the impact of facility closures on childcare programming for low-income families.
“[Many] can’t afford to have before- and afterschool care, except when it’s sponsored by the city and at a reduced cost,” Carroll said.
The city offers a tuition scholarship for the daycare, and provides transportation to and from schools, homework help and free meals and snacks.
“These are the people that are really hurt the most by what’s going on,” Carroll said.
Port City Daily asked the city the number of reservations and events scheduled prior to the investigation, the annual average of participants in the senior center and youth programs, and which programs and activities yield the highest number of attendees. A response was not received by press.
Despite having not met for two months, Saldo confirmed to Port City Daily the parks and rec advisory committee will meet monthly moving forward.
Tips or comments? Email Emily Sawaked at [email protected]
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