As the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex Board irons out the details of the design and bid phases of a renovation and expansion plan, the El Dorado City Council has passed a resolution that could help secure more funding for the project.
Council members passed a resolution June 20 to apply for a 50/50 matching grant with the Arkansas Department of Tourism’s Outdoor Recreation Grant Program.
After City Attorney Henry Kinslow read the resolution, Robert Edmonds, director of public works, explained that if approved, the grant would assist with the first phase of the two-phase master plan for the complex.
City officials previously approved $2.6 million from the El Dorado Works economic development tax to cover phase one, which 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, concession stands, breakrooms and Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility.
The concessions plaza will include a game room and coaches and umpires’ lounge.
• Four youth soccer fields.
• New fencing, turf, LED lights, poles, protective netting and a new batting cage for the four fields on the north end of the complex; renovation of the concession stand and restrooms in that area; and improvements for security and entry controls for the facility.
Low bids totaling $1.8 million are under review for three components of the project: turf installation, lighting, fencing and grading.
During a complex board meeting June 15, board members noted that the new concessions plaza had been estimated at an additional $400,000, which would exceed the $2.6 million budget.
Edmonds and Greg Harrison — board president and member of the Union County Quorum Court — said then that the state grant could assist with construction of the new concession stand.
On June 20, Council Member Billy Blann expressed concern about applying for a grant while plans for the improvement project are under way.
“How does Arkansas parks and tourism respond when we say, ‘Oh, we’ve already drawn up the plans to do this work. We want a grant now?’” Blann asked.
“I mean, that’s in the middle of it. Is that going to deter them in any way? Is it kosher to do that? Will it help your chances or hurt your chances of getting this grant?” he continued.
Council Member Dianne Hammond, who serves as vice-chairman of the complex board, said the timing of the grant application will help the board’s chances for approval, noting that the project is being done in phases.
“Anything that you have ongoing when you’re asking for a grant where they can improve, you’re most — I’m not saying you’re most likely going to get it, but you have a better opportunity of getting it,” Hammond said.
Blann noted that the verbiage in the resolution was general and did not specify a project or city park or public outdoor facility.
“It’s a very general thing and I want you to have the best chance there is,” he said.
In addition to the concession stand, Hammond said the grant could help fund other components of the improvement project, including lighting, parking lot improvements and possibly another entrance into the complex.
The resolution was unanimously approved.
Other business
In other business, the council voted to delete several vehicles from the city’s inventory.
Pierce Moore, administrative assistant in Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer’s office, said the five Crown Victorias, a Chevrolet Impala and a Sterling LT 7500 truck were no longer a part of the city’s inventory, but the city was still paying insurance premiums on the items.
“We don’t have these items, but they’ve never been deleted,” Moore told council members.
Hammond asked if a grand piano that was recently destroyed by water damage at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium could be added to the deletion list and Moore said the piano did not appear on the city’s inventory list.
City Clerk Heather McVay noted that the piano had been donated to the city.
Council members had voted earlier to replace the piano with a 2012 Steinway model.
Council member Andre Rucks inquired about several police vehicles that had been presented earlier this year for deletion from the city’s inventory, asking if the vehicles had been auctioned.
Rucks said former Police Chief Billy White presented the request, which included several Crown Victorias, in January, prior to his retirement Feb. 1.
New Police Chief Kenny Hickman said the vehicles will be auctioned but the EPD has not yet accumulated a sufficient number of vehicles — inventory that includes vehicles seized from arrests — to assemble an auction.
Hickman said the cars are being stored in the EPD’s parking lot, telling council members, “It’s just really not a lot to where we can do it. I have explored a little bit about the procedure. I’d like to clear our parking lot, but we’re waiting to have a little bit more, excuse the phrase, bang for our buck, a little bit more before we engage in that process.”
The council also rescheduled its first regular meeting in July.
Smith-Creer noted that the date for the regularly scheduled meeting falls on Independence Day and council members agreed to bump the meeting to July 2.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.