Complex Board to seek funding for installation of two kiosks
A local corporation has donated two kiosks to help complete a component in the first phase of an improvement and expansion project at the El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex.
Now, the facility’s board of directors plan to request additional funding to install the kiosks, which will be used for concession stands.
Robert Edmonds, director of public works, provided an early quote of at least $50,000 to prepare the infrastructure to accommodate two used kiosks that have been donated by Murphy USA.
MUSA uses the structures at many of its gas stations.
The kiosks will serve the baseball, softball and two new youth soccer fields on the south end of the complex on Champagnolle Road.
Union County officials have agreed to transport the kiosks from out of state.
On Wednesday, Greg Harrison, chairman of the complex board of directors and a member of the Union County Quorum Court, said Union County Judge Mike Loftin is in talks with the freight company that is used by MUSA.
He also said board members are awaiting final cost estimates on infrastructure and installation from Edmonds.
The kiosks are part of phase one of the twophase master plan to expand and improve the complex and create opportunities to generate more revenue by pursuing more and larger tournaments.
Phase one includes the new soccer fields, the completion of two existing youth baseball and softball fields, all on the south end of the complex, and the installation of turf, lighting and fencing on four older fields on the north end of the facility.
New concessions and restroom facilities on the south end of the facility are the remaining components of phase one, which is being covered by a $2.7 million budget from the El Dorado Works tax, a one-cent sales tax that is earmarked for economic development, infrastructure and quality-of-life projects.
Last summer, the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission kicked in an additional $257,000 to help complete the soccer fields after the phase-one budget hit a snag with unanticipated engineering costs.
The soccer fields have been seeded and complex board members have said they hope the fields will be ready for play in the fall.
Phase two of the master plan calls for a baseball field for older teens and adults, parking lot improvements and expansion and a recreational trail to be built around the complex.
Plans and conceptual designs for phase one initially called for a concessions plaza that would include a concession area, restrooms, an umpires’ lounge/changing room and an office for complex manager, the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado.
The club manages the complex and its concessions, per contracts for services with the city of El Dorado and the complex, respectively.
The concessions plaza came with an estimated price tag of $340,000 and after months of discussions, complex board member Keith Smith proposed the idea of kiosks, similar to the ones that are used by Murphy USA.
Board members agreed that the smaller kiosks would be less expensive and logistically feasible within the space that is available near the south fields.
Upon reaching out to MUSA to gather more information about kiosks, board members were surprised with an offer from MUSA to donate two old kiosks to the complex.
“We’re grateful to Murphy USA for stepping up to the plate and being a good citizen to the El Dorado and Union County community and helping us with this endeavor. We can’t thank them enough for everything they do for the community,” Harrison said.
He also said that he has been working with the BGCE to make sure the club has the necessary equipment to operate two additional concession stands at the complex.
An existing concession stand serves the north fields.
With the kiosks and their transport covered, Harrison and Edmonds said the next step is to firm up the costs for installation and present a proposal to the El Dorado Works Board for additional funding.
The EWB administers the El Dorado Works tax. As a part of that role, the group vets funding proposals. If approved, the proposals are then forwarded to the city council for consideration.
Edmonds said the cost to install the kiosks may be $50,000 - $60,000, explaining that the job will entail concrete piers on which to base the kiosks, concrete skirting and water, wastewater and electrical power.
Harrison said one of the kiosks will be set up near an electrical breaker box that serves the four softball and baseball fields and the other kiosk will be installed near the soccer fields, for which electrical power will be installed for lighting.
Harrison said the Texarkana-based A.L. Engineering Inc. is drafting a plan to light the soccer fields.
“Both of those kiosks come with electrical wiring and plumbing so it’ll be easy to get them installed once all the preparations are made,” Harrison said.
Complex board members are continuing discussions about the need for additional restrooms for the south side of the complex.
An existing restroom facility next to the Dumas Pavilion contains four stalls each for men and women’s units.
Harrison previously said that one of the kiosks comes with two restrooms and the complex board has said that more restrooms are going to be needed once activity increases on the south of the complex.
The restrooms inside the kiosk will help to meet those needs in the short term, Harrison said.
In the meantime, Harrison expressed appreciation for the work that Edmonds is doing on the project and to the EWB for agreeing to consider another funding request.
“I’m sure that by the time we start having tournaments, the parents, grandparents and other patrons that attend the ballgames out there will also appreciate it,” Harrison said.