The Cherokee County Recreation District Board has made three requests of Gaffney Little League Football — create an independent oversight board, provide more transparent financial statements and clarify some of its rules.

Ray Head, president of the youth football league, has rejected those requests.

In other words, both sides remain as far apart as ever even after a lively 90-minute special called meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Hampton Inn aimed at resolving the disagreements.

All that matters now, according to Head, is will the Recreation Department allow the league to play its games at Love Field, a Recreation Department facility.

“I got my answer that we could (play there) but with conditions,” Head said. “I’m through arguing. There won’t be any conditions. We are an independent organization. The taxpayers pay to maintain the field. Now, we just have to see how much it will cost us.”

For his part, Recreation Board Chairman Mike Bolin is hopeful the year-long dispute can be worked out .

Originally, the dispute centered on the Recreation District’s decision to hike its registration fees for all youth sports from $30 to $40. Now, Recreation District officials appear to be seeking more influence over the league operations since they contend “that complaints (about the league) land in their laps.”

Bolin said the biggest issues about the league’s operations are “accountability and consolidated authority.”

Bolin contends the league’s steering committee, which handles complaints about the league, is inadequate to handle some complaints. That’s the reason the Recreation District wants an oversight inde- pendent board to rule on complaints the steering committee can’t resolve.

Head said the steering committee, comprised of football coaches who serve as the chairman and two representatives each from the Mite and Submite leagues, is working fine.

“Any problems that come up, they deal with,” Head said.

Head is not a voting member of the steering committee.

Bolin said he wants more information concerning the league’s finances.

But Head maintains he provides the league with a statement produced by the league’s accountant.

Lastly, there is a concern how teams fill their rosters.

“We just want a clarification on who can play where,” Bolin said.

Head said the league’s bylaws clearly state that where a child plays is determined by the school he attends.

The highly-charged meeting began with Head seeking a retraction from Recreation District Director Mac Byars, who, according to Head, told a group of baseball coaches that the registration fee hike had no impact on the participation rate in Head’s league.

Head maintains that his figures show fewer players signed up to play this season.

Bolin argued that participation rates in youth sports is down nationally.

One youth football coach, Chris Blanton, characterized the league as “scandalous” and accused the coaches of “losing control of the league.”

Blanton also called the steering committee “a joke.”

An angry Laymond Dewberry, former Recreation District Board member and president of the summer youth baseball league, said he was upset to learn the Recreation District Board approved bonuses for department employees when Recreation District officials have said the department is losing money.

Bolin responded that Dewberry approved the bonuses when he served on the Board. But Dewberry said the Board’s financial situation has changed since then.