Voters of Ward 1 chose Tuesday to stick with a familiar face when they re-elected Billy Blann to a sixth term on the El Dorado City Council.
Blann slipped past Democratic challenger Robert Henderson by 73 ballots for the Ward 1, Position 2 spot.
Blann received 588 votes, compared to 515 for Henderson.
“I’m thankful for the people of Ward 1 for giving me another chance. I consider myself lucky. It was a huge (voter) turnout,” said Blann, an Independent candidate.
His new term begins on Jan. 1, and he said he would like to get to work on some city projects with his fellow alderman and Mayor-elect Veronica Smith-Creer.
“I congratulate Veronica and will offer any assistance I can for her agenda and to help the people of El Dorado,” he said.
Blann has longed championed the development of a walking/bike trail system in the city.
He said he plans to keep pushing for such projects to help improve parks and recreational opportunities to help improve the quality of life for El Dorado residents.
Essential city services and safe neighborhoods are also key issues Blann has identified.
First, he said the council needs to resolve a pending funding request and lease-purchase agreement with the Murphy Arts District.
MAD has asked for a $2.2 million from the city’s El Dorado Works economic development tax.
The amount would be in addition to a total of $13.4 million the city has approved from the El Dorado Works tax and the former El Dorado Forward tax, which expired in 2015.
The money was used to purchase property for MAD’s amphitheater, playscape and Oil Heritage Park.
Once MAD developed the properties, the deeds were to have been turned over to the city, who will lease the properties to MAD for a nominal fee.
As part of the deal, MAD, formerly known as El Dorado Festivals and Events, Inc., will operate and maintain the facilities.
The purchase-lease agreement was completed for Oil Heritage Park in 2016.
Construction has also been completed for the amphitheater and playscape.
MAD is now seeking a $2.2 million reimbursement for cost overruns on construction for the two facilities before handing the deeds over to the city.
The two groups plan to meet this week with Arkansas Municipal League officials to sort through the matter.
The El Dorado Works Board, who administers the El Dorado Works tax, has already approved the $2.2 million funding request.
Due to a scheduling mix-up last month, the board has not yet formally forwarded the request to the city council for final approval.
“We’ve got that festivals and events project on the table right now. Hopefully, we can get that resolved and get it resolved before the end of the year,” Blann said.
Ward 4, Position 1
The third time was the charm Tuesday for El Dorado City Council candidate Paul Choate, who won the Ward 4, Position 1 seat during the General Election.
Choate, a Republican, bested Democratic opponent Patrick Frazier to succeed Council Member Mary McAdams, who did not seek re-election.
In his third bid for a seat on the city council, Choate won with 739 votes. Frazier garnered 578 votes.
Choate said his primary responsibility as alderman will be to tend to the business of the city by being a good steward of the taxpayer dollars and being the “eyes and ears … and voice” in city hall for the citizens he will represent.
His two-year term will begin Jan. 1.
Choate could not be reached for comment following the election Tuesday.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].