GREENVILLE – Greenville Park Board President Kathy Beam tendered her resignation on Monday, leaving newly-appointed Greenville Law Director Camille Baker as the board’s sole remaining member.
Mayor Mike Bowers said he appreciated Beam’s contributions to Greenville Parks, and that he valued her service to the community.
“I appreciate her stepping up and serving. She’s done a great job volunteering as a member of the park board, and a great job volunteering for various organizations in the community. Her input is always valued and we’ll continue to move forward.”
Park Facilities Manager Andy Mead said Beam’s service to the City of Greenville’s parks was excellent, and that her absence would be felt.
“She’s going to be missed. Whoever is going to take her place has some big shoes to fill, because Kathy was committed to the people of Greenville’s parks,” he said.
Mayor Bowers will now appoint two new members to fill the three-person park board, and is optimistic the assignments could take place as soon as the next park meeting.
In an email statement, Beam wrote that she was displeased with the current environment between the park board and the City of Greenville administration, and that she felt she wasn’t getting responses from city officials in a timely manner.
When asked about Beam’s grievances, Mayor Bowers commented that he was aware of previous communication issues between the city administration and park board, but that he thought the issues were worked out in a prior joint session.
“I thought we were moving forward in a positive direction,” said Mayor Bowers. “Some of the things she was concerned with I thought we had worked through.”
Despite leaving the park board, Beam said she’ll remain active in the community and expects to help in other areas of its development.
“I love the city. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to continue to help and maybe I can continue to do more on the outside than on the inside,” Beam said.
Beam said that she hopes the city administration and park board will continue to improve the 2013 park agenda, and wishes the continued success of Greenville’s parks in upcoming year.