Boys and Girls Club to take over complex concessions

News-Times
News-Times

In an ongoing bid to boost revenue at the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex, the facility’s board of directors has selected a new operator for the concession stand.

The Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado will take over concessions in 2019, with complex board members agreeing to dip into the 2018 budget to purchase related equipment and supplies.

The club is contracted with the city of El Dorado — with a budgetary contribution and input from Union County — to manage the complex, including concessions.

A vote by the complex board on Oct. 12 ended a longstanding relationship with the Duran family, who formerly owned and operated the Kozy Kitchen restaurant.

In 2013, John Duran was awarded the bid as the new concessionaire for the complex and drew compliments from, locals, out-of-town visitors and complex board members alike about the food, prices and service provided.

When health issues sidelined Duran, his daughter Carmen Duran and her fiancé Blake Smith, took over as family representatives with the board and concession stand.

Carmen Duran represented her parents — John and Lisa — when the board renewed the concessionaire contract in January.

Following months of discussions about how to improve the complex and increase revenue, board members agreed to form an ad hoc committee to review concession stand operations.

Board members agreed that concessions are a key moneymaker for such facilities and bringing the operations in-house could help boost income for the recreation complex.

The current contract for the concession stand includes a monthly rental rate of $315 that is paid to the complex.

Within the past two years, the complex has brought in $12,000 to $14,000 in annual revenue, said Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board and member of the Union County Quorum Court.

The 2018 complex budget comes to $221,000, a figure that is covered by the city — who owns the land on which the complex was built — and the county.

The facility is located on Champagnolle Road, just outside city limits.

Board members noted that due to a 2015 legislative audit for the county, approximately $30,000 in league fees was routed out of county coffers.

The fees were used to pay umpires and funneled through the county, who in turn used the money to pay the umpires.

“The auditors did not like how the umpires were being compensated through the county, so instead of them being paid through the (county) treasurer’s office, they’re being paid directly from the league directors,” said Harrison.

He said the change gave the appearance of a drastic drop in revenue for the complex.

“So, it’s the same income, it’s just that part of it is not going through the county anymore,” said Dianne Hammond, co-chairman of the complex board and member of the El Dorado City Council.

On Oct. 12, Harrison said several county officials have expressed reservations about increasing the county’s support of the complex if efforts are not made to upgrade and modernize the facility in order to increase usage and generate more income.

Union County Judge Mike Loftin said the concessionaire contract calls for the complex manager — the Boys and Girls Club — to operate the concession stand.

The ad hoc committee met last month and reviewed two concessionaire proposals for 2019, one that was submitted by the B&GC and the other by Carmen Duran and Smith.

Per the terms that were listed in both proposals, 15 percent of gross revenue from concession sales would be paid to the complex.

Avo Vartenian, complex board member and a member of the ad hoc committee, explained the committee’s recommendation “was not based on services” provided by the Durans.

“We’re trying to look at things and get accurate numbers so we can get things together for next season. We’re also trying to make the complex grow,” Vartenian said.

He and Harrison said the board will later evaluate the new concessions contract with the B&GC to gauge how the arrangement is working out.

“We want to give them the opportunity to see what they will do with it or if we need to keep contracting it out,” Vartenian said. “We want to see how this works with them fully managing the complex by bringing in tournaments and managing the concession stand.”

Harrison told Carmen Duran and Smith that the situation is not yet permanent, and the board could be calling on them for assistance as early as 2020.

He noted that board members are working to implement a master improvement plan that was first developed in 2014 by CADM Architecture, Inc., and refined earlier this year by ETC Engineers and Architects, Inc., of Little Rock.

Phase one of the project includes the completion of two existing youth fields on the south end of the complex and the construction of two adjacent fields, all with restrooms and a concession stand.

Four youth soccer fields have also been incorporated into phase one.

“One entity is not going to be able to run that concession stand as well. We’re going to need people with experience,” Harrison told Smith and Carmen Duran.

Carmen Duran noted the equipment her family purchased for the concession stand, telling board members that once they move out, only an ice machine, a stainless steel table and two storage racks will remain.

“We understand how vital it is to create revenue, and we’re willing to give advice. You also have to look at the expenses that go into it,” she said. “There’s a lot of expenses to get it up and running and a lot of product and hourly labor.”

Board members said they considered those factors and agreed to tap into the 2018 complex budget to purchase a refrigerator, drink boxes, fountain-drink machine, two coolers and a crockpot.

Board member Phillip Lansdell suggested that the B&GC explore vendor options and deals for the drink boxes and fountain-drink machine.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

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