Complex board expected to make announcement on director today

EL DORADO — The El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex board of directors is expected to make an announcement today in regard to a search for a manager/director for the facility on Champagnolle Road.

For the past two weeks, the board has met in executive session to interview candidates and discuss the applicants who are vying for the job. During an El Dorado City Council meeting on Thursday, Mayor Frank Hash said the board is looking speak on the matter soon.

While Hash did not specifically say that the board had picked a candidate, he made statements indicating that the council’s election of Avo Vartenian as a new board member to represent the city was related to a forthcoming announcement. The board is comprised of seven members who represent the city and Union County, who share expenses to operate the complex.

Alderman Dianne Hammond, who is also a member of the complex board, presented Vartenian as a candidate for a position on the board, saying that the board had recommended Vartentian for the seat.

When Alderman Willie McGhee asked who Vartenian would be replacing, Hash said, “It’s in anticipation of a board member rolling off the board for another duty. The board wants to make the announcement themselves.”

John Turbeville, co-chairman of the complex board, could not be reached for comment on Friday.

A board meeting has been scheduled for noon today in the second-floor conference room of City Hall.

The complex has been without a director/ manager since late 2013 when former manager Tobin Fulmer resigned to take another job.

City and county officials held a series of meetings last year to hash out issues the county had raised about the operation of the complex — one of them being the lack of a manager for the facility.

County voted 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 said the county would continue covering half of the budgeted expenditures, but will no longer contribute any budget overages at the complex.

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 to also take an active role in helping to boost revenue by marketing and promoting the facility, booking more tournaments, maximizing the potential for existing income streams —banners/signs and rentals for the RV sites and pavilions —, and finding new revenue sources.

Board members and city and county officials have said that while the complex is not a major income-maker, a manager could find ways to at least help the facility break even.

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.

Turbeville said previously that six candidates had applied for the job, and the complex board had narrowed the field down to three finalists.