League fees established for private groups using cityʼs recreation complex

Following months of discussions, the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex Board agreed set league fees for private, non-complex leagues.

On March 6, the group board voted to set the fees at $500. Board member Stacy Scroggins cast the lone no vote, saying, “I’m not opposed to league fees. I’m opposed to jumping into this late in the year with the leagues ready to play.”

Board members have said two such leagues, church co-ed softball and the men’s industrial, play at the complex.

Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board, reminded the group that the matter had been under discussion since last November and it had been tabled.

“Since we tabled it, (Union County) has dropped out of (its administrative role) for the complex and the city has taken over operations out there and there are some issues that the city wants to get in front of,” added complex board member Mike Rice, who is also a member of the El Dorado City Council.

Representing the church league, Bill Evans inquired about state legislative audit issues that had arisen during the county’s tenure as administrator for the complex.

“They had a problem with two complex board members and a county employee being compensated as umpires,” said Harrison.

The El Dorado City Council previously broached another issue in which city officials learned that the Union County Quorum

Court agreed in 2016 to allow league directors to hold onto to league fees to directly pay umpires and scorekeepers, with Harrison adding then that two league directors are following the practice.

County officials agreed four years ago that the move would help clean up the county’s books, which, at the time, showed that the budget line-item out of which scorekeepers and umpires were paid was running at a deficit.

At the time, Union County Judge Mike Loftin explained that $13,000 was budgeted to pay umpires and scorekeepers and the league fees that came in during the season would be used to reimburse the line item.

The quorum court subsequently agreed to delete the line item and allow league directors to pay umpires and scorekeepers directly.

Harrison, who was neither a member of the quorum court nor the complex board when the quorum made the decision, explained to city officials last month that the change gave the appearance that revenue had decreased for the complex, adding that the county had not assessed league fees for several years.

Scroggins said he would be glad to meet with legislative auditors to clear up any issues they may have.

“Is (the $500) a one-year price or is that the price from now on?” Evans asked.

Rice and complex board member Chris Nale said the new league fee is good for this year and the board will re-evaluate the situation later.

“That’s not to say it’s going to go up,” Nale said.

Evans inquired about a potential situation that could arise if the church league is turned away from the complex during its Friday night play due to a conflict with other tournaments.

“We have a different Friday night that can be provided to you,” Harrison said.

Evans also asked about the use of Mosby Park and Nale and said Mosby Park is under a “different evaluation” and falls under the oversight of the El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission.