By Tia Lyons
Staff Writer
EL DORADO — The El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission agreed Tuesday to throw its support behind plans by the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado to request more money from the city to assist with the formation of an adult recreational league.
But first, commissioners said they would like to review a plan for the proposed project before it is presented to city council.
A subcommittee made up of representatives from the parks and playgrounds commission and the BGCE has been studying the issue for months.
The BGCE previously agreed to operate and manage the league with help from he city.
On Tuesday, Commissioner John Thomas Shepherd said he had spoken with David Lee, executive director of the BGCE, and Lee planned to approach the El Dorado City Council with a proposal that calls for an increase in the club’s annual contract for services with the city.
Since El Dorado does not have an organized program for recreational activities for youth, the city contracts with BGCE to provide such services.
Shepherd asked the commission to support the effort in the form of a vote and/or a resolution.
He added that people often ask him about the progress on the effort to start an adult athletic recreation league in El Dorado.
“We hope to get this thing off the ground and that people will get involved with recreational activities,” he said.
Shepherd said the committee has discussed basketball, flag football and soccer for the adult league.
Depending on how the initial startup works, Shepherd said the addition of other sports, such as tennis, will be considered in the future.
Commissioner Scott Watkins, who was participating in his first EPPC meeting since being appointed to the commission in August, inquired about the amount for which Lee plans to ask aldermen and a plan for the proposed league.
Shepherd and Mayor Frank Hash, who was in the audience, said the city typically appropriates $25,000 for the annual contract with the boys and girls club.
Shepherd said he had not discussed the particulars of Lee’s proposal.
“I left that to his decision so he can operate the league,” Shepherd said. “He needs to think about hours, he needs employees, hours of operation and referees.”
League fees will help to offset operational costs for the BGCE to manage the adult league.
Shepherd has said BGCE’s exiting insurance policy will cover the adult league with a nominal increase in fees.
“It will cost $1 more per person based on the sheer fact that more people are going to be covered,” he said Tuesday.
Watkins said he was not comfortable voting on the issue without first seeing a plan.
“Do we know what the numbers are? Do we know what the need is? What’s the feasibility? Does he have a plan?” Watkins said, referring to Lee.
Hash said he has been apprised of the situation and Lee’s intent to approach the city council with a request for additional funding.
Hash said he would advocate for an increase of up to $5,000 in the 2017 annual contract for services.
He told Watkins that the BGCE typically provides a detailed proposal with its annual funding request, along with biannual updates on how the money is being spent.
Hash said a city council finance committee is developing a 2017 city budget proposal, and he thought an endorsement from the parks and playgrounds commission would bode well for the BGCE and the adult league in budget discussions.
“The city is not doing well in revenues for the year, but I don’t think $30,000 is an unattainable amount for the Boys and Girls Club,” Hash said.
“I will promote whatever Mr. Lee wants if it’s not in excess of $30,000. I don’t know how that will make out with the finance committee, but I think if it has the endorsement of the parks and playgrounds commission, it’ll be even better,” he added.
Shepherd said the club has served the city well over the years, and he said he understood Watkins’ asking to see a plan for the adult league before voting to support it.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].