Rec Complex board prepares for 2019

New funding strategy needed for renovation plan

As the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex Board retools its strategy to find funding for a master renovation plan, the group is tapping into resources that are readily available for other improvement projects at the Champagnolle Road facility.

Board members recently looked to the remaining $12,000 in the 2018 complex budget to purchase equipment in preparation for the upcoming spring/summer sports season.

Late last month, board members learned that the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism had turned down a grant application that came with a maximum award of $250,000 and a 50/50 match.

Had the grant been approved, the money would have been directed toward a two-phased, master improvement and expansion plan.

The first phase has a $1.5 million price tag and includes additional youth fields and related facilities for softball, baseball and soccer and upgrades to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Complex board members and Mayor Frank Hash discussed the matter Dec. 7 during the board’s regular monthly meeting.

By the end of the conversation, the board had agreed with Hash’s suggestion to put together a funding proposal for the El Dorado Works Board — who administers the city’s one-cent, economic development tax — and the Union County Quorum Court.

“If we can’t get the money from one place, let’s go locally and try to get it,” Hash said at the time, adding that the proposal should be completed before the end of the year — and the end of his third mayoral term and tenure in office.

Hash also said the group can get started on jobs — such as dirt work, grubbing, parking improvements and stockpiling materials — that can be done in-house by the city of El Dorado and Union County, both of which contribute to the annual operating budget for the complex.

The second phase of the master plan — which comes in at an estimated $4.5 million for the addition of a college-style baseball field; renovation of the RV site; a splash pad; and expansion and repaving of the parking lot — is still some years away, but Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board, said he aspires to have phase one completed within the next 18 months.

“Hopefully, we can have more opportunities for our kids by 2020,” said Harrison, also a member of the Union County Quorum Court.

Preparing for 2019

The goal of the master plan is to make the recreation complex the premier sporting facility in the region in order to boost revenue; attract more and larger youth tournaments; and provide the area’s young athletes with better facilities to help them improve their game, thus opportunities for college scholarships and other such breaks, board members have explained.

Within the past two years, the complex has brought in $12,000 to $14,000 in annual revenue.

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

As part of the effort to generate more income, the board voted in October to bring concession operations in-house by selecting a bid from the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado, who manages the complex in a contract for services with the city.

Board members agreed that concessions are a key moneymaker for such facilities.

The vote ended a longstanding relationship with the Duran family, former owners of Kozy Kitchen. The Durans had served as concessionaires for the complex since 2013 and had paid a monthly rental rate of $315 to the complex.

With 2018 winding down, the board took a look at year-end needs for the complex that could be met with $12,000 remaining in the budget.

Board members dedicated the money to equipping the concession stand with supplies and appliances requested by the BGCE, including an ice machine, refrigerator, a 72-inch x 24-inch table, popcorn machine, electric deep fryer, food warmer, snack racks and a window unit air conditioner.

The BGCE is authorized to spend up to $1,000 without board approval for items or services that are needed for the complex.

Board members agreed to allot $6,000 for the equipment, with a caveat.

Hash said Robert Edmonds, director of public works, was planning a trip to a Little Rock wholesaler, with whom the city has found good bargains for equipment and supplies.

Noting that an old concession stand had been moved from the BGCE North West Avenue property to the complex, board members said another ice machine would be needed to equip the second concession stand once minor repairs are made so the stand can be used on a temporary basis.

Harrison has also said that the board could renew its relationship with the Durans, adding that once the existing fields are completed on the south end of the complex and new fields added there, a second concession stand will be needed.

Noting conditional approval of the $6,000, complex board members said the money is to be used to purchase the needed equipment if Edmonds finds it in Little Rock or elsewhere if he doesn’t.

They advised Scott McMurry, athletic director for the BGCE, to accompany Edmonds on the trip.

McMurry said the club had already purchased a double-sided cooler at an auction.

The board also approved the low bid of $2,285 to repair lighting at the existing concession stand. El-Ark Electric Company, Inc., one of three bidders, was awarded the bid.

Another purchase for 2019 will be new magnetic bases for three of the four older fields on the north end of the complex.

McMurry said the new bases will help improve safety for players.

“With the bases that are out there now, you can slide into it and the base will pop up and you can slide in and break an ankle,” McMurry said. “With the magnetic bases, the top of the base pops up, the rest of it stays in place.”

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

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