Complex makeover ON WORKS’ agenda
The El Dorado Works Board will convene today for its first regular meeting since February.
The board — which administers the city's 1-cent sales tax for economic development, municipal infrastructure and quality-of-life projects — is scheduled to meet at 5:15 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall.
EWB chairman Greg Downum said safety measures, including social distancing and temperature screenings, will be enforced to help guard against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID19).
The EWB canceled its monthly meetings in March, April and May because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, board members are expected to hear a funding request from the El Dorado-Union County Recreation
Complex Board to complete the first of a twophase renovation and expansion project at the complex.
Phase 1 includes the completion of two existing youth baseball and softball fields, the construction of two new youth fields on the south end of the complex and the installation of turf, lighting and fencing on the four older fields on the north end of the facility.
Those items have been completed, with the exception of a few punch-list specifications.
The two remaining components of Phase 1 call for the addition of of two youth soccer fields and a new concessions plaza — all of which will be located on the south end of the complex.
Diversified Construction and Design submitted the low bid of $671,824 for the soccer fields. Milam Construction submitted the low bid of $343,989 for the concessions plaza.
Phase one of the master improvement plan is being covered by a $2.6 million budget that is also funded by the El Dorado Works tax.
Members of the complex board recently learned that the balance in the budget will not be enough to pay for the soccer fields and concessions plaza.
Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board and a member of the Union County Quorum Court, said more money was spent from the $2.6 million budget than originally expected.
Harrison explained that fees for A.L. Franks Engineering Inc., who is designing and overseeing the project, were not figured into the budget because board members were initially told that the city has a professional services contract with the Texarkana-based firm and board members thought the contract would cover engineering work that A.L. Franks is performing for the complex.
Edmonds previously said the soccer fields should be prioritized and the concession stand completed as money becomes available.
“That's what's going to draw people out there. Nobody is going to come to that complex because our funnel cakes are better than anybody else's funnel cakes,” Edmonds recently told members of the El Dorado City Council.
He also said about $400,000 remains in the project budget and Edmonds and Harrison said complex board members planned to present funding requests to the EWB and possibly, the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission to complete Phase 1 of improvements at the complex.
Harrison said the A.L. Franks is expected to provide an update on the project and review the recommended bids for the soccer fields and the concessions plaza during the EWB meeting today.
The complex has been closed since March because of COVID-19 and a moratorium on team sports that had been set by the Arkansas Activities Association.
The AAA lifted the dead period for team sports June 1 and there have been calls from areas residents to reopen the complex.
El Dorado City Council members previously agreed to suspend expenditures on non-essential services to evaluate how COVID-19 will affect city revenue.
Late last month, council members reiterated that the complex will remain closed until they have had the opportunity to review city finances and determine if the city can afford operate and manage the facility.
Per an agreement that was signed in January, the city assumed administrative duties at the complex from Union County and the county voted to kick in up to $100,000 toward the annual budget.
The 2019 complex budget came to $222,590.