Recreation Complex searches for new director

EL DORADO — Interviews have been under way to hire a director/manager for the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex.

John Turbeville, co-chairman of the complex board of directors, said six resumes/applications were submitted for the job, and the board whittled the list down to three finalists who were interviewed last Thursday.

Turbeville said followinterviews may be conducted, and board members are planning to schedule a meeting to discuss the finalists in order to make a recommendation to the El Dorado City Council and Union County Quorum Court.

“We’ve had some really good people with some really good ideas. They all would do a good job out there,” Turbeville said.

The city and county held a series of meetings about the matter last year, with the county agreeing to dissolve a years-old agreement with the city to share pro rata expenses at the complex.

Union County Judge Mike Loftin and quorum court members voted to continue covering half of the budgeted expenditures.

However, the county

will no longer contribute to any budget overages at the complex, county officials said.

The complex board agreed with city and county officials about the need for a manager, not only to oversee dayto-day operations at the complex, but also to take an active role in helping to boost revenue there by marketing and promoting the facility, scheduling tournaments, and handling other income sources.

City and county officials agreed to evenly split the costs for a base salary of $30,000.

There is also potential for the manager to receive a commission on revenue that is brought into the complex, less expenses.