Finance Committee discuss payment requests

EL DORADO — The El Dorado City Council Finance Committee discussed issues Monday regarding requested payments for services at two city facilities.

One of the items appears on the agenda of the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission, which will meet at noon today in the Council Chamber of City Hall.

Commissioners are expected to continue discussions about questions surrounding a golf cart lease at Lions Club Municipal Golf Course and its outgoing golf professional Mike Hoelzer.

The commission opted not to renew Hoelzer’s contract with the city and is looking into the cheaper alternative of hiring a manager to oversee operations at the golf course.

The move came in response to a request by the El Dorado City Council to take significant measures to cut costs at the golf course, which has operated at a deficit for a number of years.

Additionally, revenues and play were down significantly at Lions Club in 2016.

On Monday, Edmonds provided scenarios that would drop expenditures by several thousand dollars, including a total of $78,000 for a facility manager and part-time help in the pro shop versus the $90,000 contract the city had with Hoelzer.

The contract included Hoelzer’s base pay and pay for employees in the pro shop.

Edmonds said that with the cuts, the golf course would still be about $25,000 – $26,000 in the red.

“But those are great strides if it all works out,” he said.

One sticking point is an existing lease that Hoelzer has for 41 golf carts at Lions Club.

In an amendment to Hoelzer’s contract in 2015, the city council and parks and playgrounds commission allowed Hoelzer to purchase the city’s old golf cart fleet, which included 30 carts, and enter into a lease agreement for a new fleet of 41.

The city had spent more than $50,000 that year to repair the aging carts.

Hoelzer has asked the city to assume the lease, contending that he entered into the deal upon the assurance that the city would take over the lease should he leave Lions Club for any reason.

Edmonds and city officials have said there is no written documentation of such a deal.

Hoelzer said Sandy

Sanford, former chairman of the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission, worked out the deal on behalf of the city.

Sanford has said the issue boils down to a clarification of wording in the 2015 contract amendment, and he planned to clear things up with the city.

On Monday, Hash said the city is not looking to place its name on the lease but will instead offer to pick up the monthly payments that Hoelzer is making for the next 24 months until the $36,000 lease is paid.

The amount includes maintenance and repairs. “That keeps us from getting involved in someone else’s lease and it keeps Mr. Hoelzer from getting hurt,” the mayor said.

Hash said the parks and playgrounds commission will discuss the matter today.

Edmonds said he has looked into another lease option for golf carts if Hoelzer declines the city’s offer.

Hash and Edmonds said the city would also stock the Lions Club pro shop with basic necessities to sell, including gloves, tees, and balls, when a new manager is hired.

The city will also maintain an offer of $500 per quarter for the sexton at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Burney Wilson has asked for a contract of services at $500 per month for work he does at the city-owned cemetery, which is adjacent to Arlington Memorial Park in the area of Mosby and Champagnolle.

Wilson has kept up with the locations and owners of plots at Woodlawn and assisted families and local funeral homes on behalf of the city for 23 years.

Hash said Wilson previously declined the offer of $500 per quarter, reiterating that he felt Wilson’s request for the same amount in monthly installments is “too high.”

Wilson spoke to the finance committee about the matter earlier this month.

The committee reviewed payments the city has made to Wilson since 2006, with the highest amount at $3,700 in 2008, and the lowest at $1,215 last year.

So far this year, Wilson has been paid $1,000. Hash and several finance committee members suggested that those requesting the services at the cemetery should pay Wilson.

“If somebody wants the information, they can just dig it up themselves or find someone else to do it,” Alderman Billy Blann said.

Hash charged that the amounts in recent invoices that have been submitted by Wilson seem to be increasing.

“Now, he clearly is starting to gouge us. You can’t prove it, … but it’s just surprising that now he wants more money, there’s more work to be done,” Hash said.

Wilson previously told the finance committee that he gets Social Security disability benefits and is allowed to make up to $500 per month to retain the benefits.

“He can make that amount without being taxed on it, and that’s what he wants to be paid,” said Alderman Dianne Hammond.

Hammond also said that Wilson uses cemetery records that are available in City Hall to assist local funeral homes and families.

City officials have also noted there are no more plots available for sale in the cemetery.