EL DORADO, Ark. — The El Dorado City Council took a significant step toward securing the future of South Arkansas Regional Hospital Thursday night, unanimously approving a resolution that will allow the city to move forward with leasing the hospital to Baptist Health once ownership of the property is transferred from Union County.

However, what began as a routine council meeting quickly evolved into an evening marked by passionate debate, personal disagreements, and multiple contentious exchanges among council members and city officials. The meeting opened with an announcement promoting the South Arkansas Fisher’s of Men event scheduled for Aug. 27 at First Financial Bank Music Hall. Organizers announced that “Duck Dynasty” star Jace Robertson will serve as keynote speaker, while Mr. Woods of Woods Place in Camden will provide a fish fry for attendees.

Hospital Lease Resolution Receives Unanimous Approval

Tim Ezell of Friday Law Firm in Little Rock and South Arkansas Regional Hospital President Danna Taylor appeared before the council seeking approval of a resolution related to the future lease of the hospital property to Baptist Health. The resolution comes as Union County prepares to transfer ownership of the hospital property to the City of El Dorado. According to officials, Union County Judge Mike Loftin is expected to sign the deed transferring ownership on Friday, June 12. City Attorney Robert Rushing explained that while additional modifications will likely be made before a final lease agreement is executed, approval of the resolution would allow the parties involved to continue moving forward with negotiations and planning.

Councilmember Willie McGhee asked how any revenue generated from the Access for Life Tax would be handled.

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“It will be up to the council on how the dollars are spent,” Taylor responded.

Councilmember Andre Rucks questioned Taylor about the approximately 40 jobs that were recently eliminated at South Arkansas Regional Hospital. Taylor acknowledged the staffing reductions but emphasized that the hospital simultaneously created roughly 30 new positions. She explained that many of the employees whose jobs were eliminated were offered opportunities to move into those newly created positions.

“We can’t just tell an employee they’re going to be doing a new job,” Taylor explained, noting that employees were given opportunities to apply for the new positions.

Following the discussion, the council unanimously approved the resolution.

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Food Truck Ordinance Could Bring Higher Fees and Steeper Penalties

Councilmember Dianne Hammond presented proposed changes to the city’s food truck ordinance, including significantly higher permit fees and increased penalties for violations. Under the proposal, food truck operators would pay between $60 and $100 for their first day of operation, depending on whether utility hookups are required. Additional operating days would cost between $30 and $75 per day. Violations of the ordinance could result in fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 plus court costs.

During the discussion, city officials noted that portions of the city’s code would need to be updated before such regulations could be properly enforced. Council members were reminded that the city’s code has not undergone a comprehensive update since 2007.

The council also discussed whether food trucks should be prohibited from operating on city-owned property altogether. While concerns were raised about protecting existing local businesses, the overall consensus favored encouraging entrepreneurs to bring business into El Dorado while maintaining support for established operations such as DP’s Food Truck Park.

Summer Jobs Program Discussion Turns Heated

One of the most spirited discussions of the evening occurred before the council moved into new business. Councilmember Willie McGhee voiced frustration over the absence of a city-sponsored summer jobs program this year, questioning why the program was not available for local youth. During the discussion, McGhee directly challenged Mayor Paul Choate, asking, “Do you even know your job description? I don’t know your job description.” McGhee repeatedly placed responsibility for the missing program on the mayor. Other council members and city officials noted that such a program cannot operate unless funding is included in the city’s annual budget.

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Councilmember Judy Ward reflected on previous years when she worked extensively to keep the program operating. Ward said she developed training opportunities and worked to secure commitments from local businesses willing to hire participating students. According to Ward, many businesses ultimately chose not to participate again due to concerns about work ethic among participants and declining enrollment in the program over recent years.

Officials also noted that the El Dorado Water Utility continues to budget funds each year to hire between eight and twelve young adults during the summer.

When given an opportunity to respond, Choate praised the history of the program and highlighted the success of two students who worked at City Hall last summer. The mayor reminded council members that budget priorities must be discussed during October.

“If you’re passionate about this program, you’ve got to talk about it in October, not April or May,” Choate said.

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Historic District Update Leads to Recess

Tensions rose again later in the meeting during a presentation from Dr. Ken Bridges regarding Historic District Commission projects. Bridges highlighted a $14,000 grant that had been secured for City Hall renovations and expressed frustration over what he viewed as delays in moving the project forward. The discussion quickly escalated when Michael Rogers responded that he had personally helped halt progress on the project. Rogers explained that he was scheduled later in the meeting to present a much larger grant opportunity worth nearly $200,000 for City Hall renovations and believed the projects needed to be coordinated before moving forward.

As the disagreement intensified, council members called for a recess to allow everyone to regroup.

When the meeting resumed, the dispute continued. Bridges accused Rogers of “not being the city architect.” Rogers immediately responded, “I can show you the contract.” Mayor Choate eventually intervened, telling both men they were out of order.

Faced with confusion surrounding the competing renovation efforts and increasingly heated discussion, the council elected to postpone action on the matter.

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Wins Tax Purchases Receive Unanimous Approval

Greg Downum reminded council members that the requests he was presenting had already been approved through the El Dorado Wins Tax budgeting process. Downum requested approval for the purchase of five new El Dorado Police Department patrol vehicles at a cost exceeding $300,000. The request was approved unanimously. The council also unanimously approved approximately $40,000 in personal protective equipment for the El Dorado Fire Department. Downum’s final request involved preparing for a major future purchase. He asked the council to earmark funding for a new fire engine for Station 3, which is expected to cost approximately $1.8 million and would likely be purchased in either 2027 or 2028. That request also received unanimous approval.

Animal Protection Officer Draws Criticism

Another tense moment occurred during discussion involving Animal Protection Officer Charles Hartsell. McGhee sharply criticized Hartsell’s performance and questioned whether he was adequately performing his duties. Robert Edmonds addressed the council on Hartsell’s behalf, explaining that many aspects of animal protection work occur behind the scenes and often go unnoticed by the public. Despite Edmonds’ presentation, McGhee remained unconvinced and continued criticizing the department even after Hartsell left the council chambers. Councilmember Buddy McAdams reminded McGhee that the council had previously voted on Hartsell’s position in February and suggested any changes would need to be addressed during upcoming budget discussions.

Boys and Girls Club Highlights Community Impact

David Lee appeared before the council on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club, thanking council members for their continued support. Lee highlighted numerous programs operated by the organization, including adult kickball leagues, youth basketball programs, summer feeding initiatives and a variety of activities serving local children and families throughout the year.

Four-Way Stop Approved After Safety Concerns Raised

The council approved the installation of an additional stop sign at the intersection of Ondo Lane and Robin Road, converting the intersection into a four-way stop. Council members referenced a recent accident involving a utility worker who reportedly suffered two broken legs at the intersection, reinforcing concerns about traffic safety in the area.

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Nearly $200,000 Grant Proposed for City Hall

Later in the meeting, Rogers formally presented a grant proposal that would make $198,891 available for City Hall renovations. According to Rogers, the grant would operate under a two-thirds, one-third funding structure, with approximately one-third of the project costs being provided through El Dorado Wins Tax funds.