Complex board members discuss uptick in revenue

Revenue is picking up for the concession stand and other sources at the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex.

While reviewing financial reports for the complex on July 12, board members learned that concession stand income for June is more than 50 percent of the take for the entire year of 2018.

The concession stand is operated by the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado—who also manages the complex, per an annual, $40,000 contract that is paid pro rata by the city of El Dorado and Union County.

Last October, the complex board awarded the concessionaire contract to the club, ending a longstanding relationship with former concessionaire, the Duran family.

At the time, Union County Judge Mike Loftin pointed out that the concessionaire’s contract called for the manager of the complex to also manage the concession stand.

Fifteen percent of gross revenue that is collected at the concession stand must be paid to the complex as a part of the terms of the concessionaire’s contract.

Concession revenue that was turned in to the complex for June came to $1,693.

“That’s more than half of what we made last year,” said Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board and a member of the Union County Quorum Court.

Harrison noted that the contract with the previous concessionaire required a monthly rental payment of $315.

Overall revenue is up at the complex this year, Harrison said.

Income from the concession stand, the use of fields for tournaments and RV and pavilion rentals for June - July 12 totaled $2,593.

Board members noted that overall expenditures at the complex are running under the $222,590 budget for 2019.

Newly-appointed board member Chris Nale asked what happens to the balance of the budget at the end of the year.

Board members said they typically review the needs of the facility in the fourth quarter and use any available funds to purchase equipment and to take care of other needs for the facility.

The city and county contribute to the annual operating budget for the complex.

The city owns the land for the facility, which sits outside city limits on Champagnolle Road.

Complex board members are working toward a goal of boosting overall revenues for the facility, a task with which the Boys and Girls Club is also charged, per its O&M agreement.

The club has booked more youth baseball tournaments at the facility within the past two years and this year, the club introduced a new activity: kickball tournaments.

The inaugural event was held in May and organizers said they hope for more participants for a second kickball tournament on Aug. 2 and 3.

David Lee, executive director of the BGCE, has explained that the kickball tournaments are complex-run events that are managed by the club and serve as an opportunity to bring new and different types of activities to the complex, which is largely made up of baseball and softball fields.

The kickball tournaments are aimed at players 15 and up.

The complex board is also working to implement a master plan to improve and expand the facility in order to host and accommodate more events.

The first phase of the plan has a $2.6 million

budget and board members have accepted bids for a portion of phase one, including LED lighting installation, turf installation and fencing and grading.

The first phase of the master plan entails four new youth soccer fields; the completion of two existing youth softball and baseball fields on the south end of the complex and new construction for two adjacent fields—all with restrooms, concession stands, breakrooms and Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility; new fencing, turf fields, 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.

“What can we do when (construction begins)? What can we do, what can we not do as far as upkeep?” Scott McMurry, athletic director of the boys and girls club, asked board members.

Harrison encouraged employees to focus on the pavilions and an issue with litter that has arisen due to animals plowing into the trash bins and strewing litter around the grounds of the facility.

Nale noted a “major pothole” near the entrance to the complex.

Harrison noted that parking lot improvements are included in phase two of the master plan.

“We’re just talking about fixing a pothole right now,” Nale said, with board members agreeing to speak with Loftin about the matter.