The Union County Quorum Court learned last month that one of two concessions kiosks at the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex won't be ready to begin serving customers from until next year.
District 3 Justice of the Peace Greg Harrison told other JPs in July that the first concessions kiosk had been hooked up and was beginning to draw revenue from those who visited the Rec Complex.
The second kiosk still needed plumbing and electrical hook-ups, however. JPs urged him to encourage the El Dorado City Council and Rec Complex Board to get it hooked up sooner rather than later.
Last month, Harrison provided another update on the kiosk to JPs, saying that while the kiosk has plumbing, an electrical work is unlikely to be finished until the end of the year. The estimated cost for installing a three-phase hook up for the kiosk is $70,000, he said.
"We need to get that going to we can actually get the kiosk up and running and start using them to generate revenue," Harrison said in October.
As the year's end nears, the county is also preparing to pay its share of the Complex's annual $200,000 budget. Harrison said he thinks the county will owe about $85,000 at the end of the year.
"It's been a long year. We had the kiosks transported in, we've had to set up platforms, we've got to do the three-phase plug, the plumbing. So there's been a lot that's gone in, as far as expenses, but it's gone toward something that's going to be a revenue-generator, hopefully for many years moving forward," he said.
Harrison also noted that the Complex Board has been receiving financial reports on the facility consistently. He previously told JPs that the City of El Dorado had been late in turning over the financial report for June.
"We've figured out a new way to encourage that, making sure the invoices get to the right location. And we've all been educated as far as the processes and procedures of how that's done," he said.
Looking ahead, the Board voted in October to move forward with Phase II of a master renovation plan for the facility that began in 2019. The first phase of the project included the construction of new soccer, baseball and softball fields; and the installation of turf, lighting and fencing.
Phase II is expected to involve parking lot improvements, a walking trail and possibly additional fields. Harrison said last month that members of the El Dorado City Council asked him to speak with South Arkansas Community College officials about financial support for any additional new fields.
"I've met with (SouthArk President) Bentley Wallace about that, about the need to have an independent letter to say that if we're going to look at building something then they need to at least be committed for it for five to seven years and also provide financial and labor assistance on keeping up with that facility if it is to be built," Harrison said.
He said the Complex Board will likely approach the El Dorado Works Board for phase II funding "going into next year."
"Hopefully we'll have a good city administration to work with at that time," Harrison added.