THOMASVILLE — Plans have been finalized on how to split approximately $25,000 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds earmarked for capital improvements to local recreational facilities.

The Thomasville City Council gave unanimous approval at its Monday meeting to a resolution supporting a recommendation by the Thomasville-Thomas County Recreation Advisory Board on how to split the funds between Meigs, Pavo, Barwick, Boston, Ochlocknee and Coolidge.

The 2006 SPLOST referendum, effective Jan. 1, 2007, provided for the funding of $1 million in county-wide parks and recreation capital outlay projects, Michael Russell, city chief financial officer, explained Wednesday.

“The rec advisory board recommended to the council that the $1 million be allocated among the various municipalities based on its assessment of recreational facility needs throughout the county,” he said.

Included in that amount was approximately $25,000 earmarked for county-wide recreation facilities improvements to existing facilities.

A breakdown was not included in the SPLOST referendum, Russell said. The rec board was asked to make a recommendation to the city council on how monies should be allocated.

A tentative plan was outlined in April 2009, but the recommendation approved by the council Monday was the first formal, itemized one the rec board presented to it, city staff said.

The May 16, 2006, SPLOST intergovernmental agreement is between Thomas County and the cities of Thomasville, Meigs, Pavo, Barwick, Boston, Ochlocknee and Coolidge.

The approved recommendation distributes the funds as follows:

• Crack and seal coating for basketball, tennis courts and walking paths in the cities of Meigs, Pavo, Barwick, Boston, Ochlocknee and Coolidge (to be administered and coordinated by the City of Boston), $8,985;

• City of Meigs — recreational facility fence improvements, $500;

• City of Pavo — construction of batting cage for recreational ballfield, $1,000;

• City of Pavo — new infield dirt for recreational ballfield, $1,800;

• City of Barwick — construction of new shelter, $500;

• City of Boston — walking track resurfacing and improvements to concession building at recreation facility, $6,000;

• City of Ochlocknee — new playground equipment, $850;

• City of Coolidge — construction of new concession building at recreational facility, $5,350.

Checks are expected to be written to municipalities next week, city staff said.

Meigs Mayor Andy Wurst was excited to hear of the decision.

“This is wonderful news,” he said Wednesday. “It does tie into what we are looking to do in Meigs with park improvements. One of the things we’ve been looking at is putting some fencing up in order to get more utilization out of the city’s park facility and keep cars out of the park itself. These funds will help us in going forward with that project.”

The facility includes a lighted ball park, swings and a basketball court.

“Meigs has a large population of persons under age 17 and we want to get some recreational things working for them,” Wurst said. “These funds will be greatly appreciated and will be used wisely.”