The El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex board of directors will hold off on plans to request funding for a new concession stand on the south side of the complex.
During a discussion about the proposed project Friday, board members agreed that the details need to be refined before the board approaches the El Dorado Works Board for additional money to complete phase one of a master plan to improve and expand the complex.
Construction on phase one has been under way since 2019 and most of the components of the project have been completed.
The first phase includes the completion of two existing youth baseball and softball fields and the construction of new youth fields on the south end of the complex and the installation of turf, lighting and fencing on four older fields on the north end of the facility.
A $2.7 million budget from the El Dorado Works tax, which is earmarked for economic development, municipal infrastructure and quality-of-life projects, covered the majority of the costs of the project.
Progress hit a snag in late summer when complex board members learned that engineering fees would have to be paid from the $2.7 million budget.
The master plan for the complex was initially drafted by CADM Architecture, Inc., in 2014.
Four years later, board members solicited the services of ETC Architects and Engineers, Inc., of Little Rock, who tweaked the plan and helped write a grant proposal for the then-Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism to launch the improvement project.
The grant applications was denied and after some wrangling with the El Dorado Works Board and encouragement from former Mayor Frank Hash, the complex board returned to the EWB and the El Dorado City Council in early 2019 with a new game plan and funding request.
The Union County Quorum Court also lent its voice to the effort.
The county and city each contribute to the complex’s annual operating budget and county officials, saying that the complex is not a money-making enterprise, called for new ideas to help generate more revenue and tighten the income-expenditure gap for the facility.
In January of 2019, the EWB and El Dorado City Council approved nearly $2.7 million from the El Dorado Works tax to complete phase one of the improvement and expansion project.
Fifteen percent of revenue from the one-cent, city sales tax is dedicated to community development projects, including 6% for parks and playgrounds — sports, recreational and outdoor venues.
After the $2.7 million was awarded, complex board members turned to A.L. Franks Engineering, Inc., to help design and oversee the phase one project.
They reached out to A.L. Franks at the behest of some city officials who said the city has an existing professional services contract with the Texarkana-based engineering firm.
Over the summer, complex board members received a bill for $326,000 from A.L. Franks.
Greg Harrison, chairman of the board, said A.L. Franks contended that the contract with the city did not cover engineering work that was done for the complex.
“They said the contract is with the city, not with the complex,” Harrison said.
About $400,000 remained in the project budget after the engineering invoices were paid and board members said the amount would not be enough to build the soccer fields and concession stand to serve the south end of the complex.
An existing concession stand serves the north end of the facility.
Board members agreed with Robert Edmonds, director of public works, who said the group should focus on adding soccer fields to generate more revenue and expand activities at the complex.
In August, the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission kicked in $256,554 to build two new youth soccer fields, which will be adjacent to the four baseball/softball fields on the south side of the complex.
During an outdoor meeting that was held Friday at the complex, board members watched from the Dumas Pavilion as construction crews continued clearing and leveling ground in preparation for the new soccer fields south of the pavilion.
“Isn’t that a lot of dirt work being done?” board member Chris Nale asked, pointing to the easternmost end of the site for the soccer fields.
Harrison and Scott McMurry, athletic director of the Boys and Girls Club, who manages the complex, explained that the soccer fields will run north and south, vertically, rather than east and west.
They said the ground is also being prepared for new parking lot space.
Board members have also said plans are in the works to build an access road/easement to the soccer fields from Champagnolle Road, saying that the easement will run near LifeTouch Hospice, which is adjacent to the entrance of the complex.
Concession stand and other projects
Board members also discussed a $343,000 bid that had been accepted from Milam Construction to build the new concession stand.
Board members agreed last month to explore other options, including two kiosks that would be used only for concessions and building separate restroom facilities and a lounge for coaches and umpires.
Plans initially called for a concessions plaza that would include a coaches/umpires’ lounge, office space for the complex manager, restrooms and concessions but after some discussion about the location of and available space for the plaza, complex board members whittled down the features of the building and said the kiosks would be a less costly alternative.
Board member Keith Smith previously said he would research costs for the kiosks.
Smith was unable to attend the board meeting Friday and the board agreed with a suggestion from board member Stacy Scroggins to postpone plans to present a funding request to the EWB until Smith presented his findings.
Harrison noted that the bid from Milam is good for 90 days and it will have expired when the group next meets on Oct. 6.
Additionally, Harrison said costs for construction materials and supplies are rising so another bid could be higher.
“I think we should allow that bid to expire and wait until we get more information from Keith,” Scroggins said. “I think we would be better served if we look at that possibility. Let’s not ask for money until we evaluate that option.”
In other business, McMurry reported that Edmonds is working up bid specifications for a new side-by-side mower and heating and cooling unit for the concession stand on the north side of the complex.
The new mower will replace an existing mower that is in constant need of repair, said McMurry and David Lee, executive director of the BGCE.
McMurry said cost estimates for a 2020 John Deere model came in below $9,000 but the mower must go out for bid.
Nale asked McMurry and Lee to consider repairing the existing mower.
“It doesn’t run. It gets fixed every other day,” McMurry said.
Nale and Harrison said more than one mower will be needed to maintain complex grounds, particularly with the addition of two new soccer fields.
“We’re going to need more than one that’s operational,” Harrison said.
A new heating and air unit will replace one of two units that has gone out in the existing concession stand, board members said.
Harrison said there is some consideration to install the new unit on the ground, rather than on the roof, like the existing unit, for easier access and maintenance.
Board members said they are working to place the expenditures for the mower and heating/cooling unit in the 2020 budget, noting that the actual numbers are below projections due, in part, to the temporary closure of the complex earlier this year because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Complex Board puts new concessions plaza on the back burner - El Dorado News-Times
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