Image above: South Arkansas College President Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez addressed the El Dorado City Council during their latest meeting.

This is Part One in a series covering the most recent El Dorado City Council Meeting: From huge announcements about investments into the city to the latest findings by the legislative audit, Mayor Choate and Council wade through packed agenda.

EL DORADO – The El Dorado Mayor and City Council met in regular session Thursday evening and while the agenda didn’t look like “more than the usual,” it was packed full of information. Following the prayer, led by Ward Three Alderman Willie McGhee, and the pledge of allegiance, Mayor Paul Choate reminded the audience that the city’s offices would be closed on Monday, February 17th for the Federal Holiday of President’s Day. He also reminded them that non-emergency services like sanitation would run one day later next week. 

• 13 WAYS TO KILL YOUR COMMUNITY

The Mayor and City Council recently attended the Arkansas Municipal League’s 2025 Winter Conference. One of the speakers at this meeting was Doug Griffiths, who along with Kelly Clemmer, penned a humorous political book called “13 Ways To Kill Your Community.” The book begins with the line, “Let’s suppose you have a really ambitious goal in life – you want to kill your community! You want to drive away people, eliminate jobs, undermine businesses, and you won’t quit until the whole place is in ruins. Don’t know how to go about it? You’re in luck – here is a handy manual, chock-full of proven ideas, for the up-and-coming town wrecker. This is the book for you!” The book goes on to chapters like: “Don’t Have Quality Water,” “Ignore Your Youth,” “Don’t Cooperate,” “Live In The Past” and so on. All meant to be a funny take on what NOT to do if you want your community to grow. Mayor Choate said he was so impressed with the speech by Mr. Griffiths, that he decided to purchase the book for all eight of the council members. Each member found a copy sitting in front of them when they arrived for the meeting. The books were purchased locally at the bookstore 1988 on the Union County Square. 

Advertisement

• EL DORADO WINS

The third and final reading of two required ordinances prior to the voters decision on the city’s proposal to continue a one percent sales tax and using the funds to further progress and operate the city were next on the agenda. Those readings, normally, are a formality for any entity. However, Ward Three’s other Alderman, Andre Rucks spoke and said, “I want to go on the record because people have been asking me why I am voting no to these readings on this tax. I am a progressive minded person and actually I love the tax. What I am wanting to point out is that the distribution of those dollars needs to be discussed.” He also added, “We still have $24 Million that we have collected from the current tax and now we are asking voters to continue or put a new tax in place of that one for another $60 Million. We need to be sure how that is allocated.” Rucks thanked the Mayor for a recent discussion the two of them had that Rucks said, “It was two hours of really talking, not arguing, just talking. I see where he (the Mayor) is coming from and he knows where I am coming from and I just want us to be sure that those in charge of distribution are listening to everyone in the community and not just the elites. We need to know the heart of the board. Because those members of the board handing that money out may not have been raised the way you were. I want to be sure they have a heart for the masses.” The Mayor followed Rucks’ comments with a heartfelt thanks to the alderman, saying, “Mr. Rucks is right, we did have a good two hour discussion and I want to say to you Mr. Rucks, I appreciate you and I appreciate your attitude.” The two ordinances were then entered into the record for a third and final time. The Mayor and Council reminded the audience of three upcoming town hall style meetings the El Dorado WINS committee has planned.(1) Thursday, February 18th at El Dorado’s Municipal Auditorium beginning at 6:00 p.m. (2) Wednesday, February 26th at the El Dorado Conference Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. (3) Thursday, March 6th at the Murmil Education Center beginning 6:00 p.m.

• HUGE INVESTMENTS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

Next on the agenda, the Council heard from Sara Coffman of the El Dorado Works Board. This is the entity in charge of bringing to the Council items for which they wish to use funds generated from a previously approved 1% sales tax. 

Coffman said the Board had a “fun meeting Tuesday night.” Adding that they too had a packed agenda. Coffman presented the Council with their first request for $27,500 to have a “Master Plan” drawn up for the City’s Parks and Playground Commission. That item was approved unanimously 7-0 with Ward Two Alderman Vance Williamson being absent from the meeting. 

The Board then recommended to the Council, for their approval, of $51,000 to the El Dorado – Union County Chamber of Commerce. An annual amount the city has previously approved, aiding the Chamber in their outreach efforts in marketing the city to prospective commercial and industrial partners. Kaitlyn Rigdon, the Chamber’s Economic Development Project Manager made herself available to the Council for questions. Alderman Rucks asked her, “So, this $51,000, what is it used for?” Rigdon said the monies were generally allocated towards the Chamber’s efforts in reaching out to potential employers, advertising and marketing the available properties in the city and county. She also said that a portion of the money was used on projects the Chamber is working in conjunction with the State of Arkansas and their economic development teams. “We currently have eleven on-going projects with the State and some of that money is being earmarked towards those projects.” Retiring Chamber President and CEO, Bill Luther, was in attendance and he said, “The Chamber always has a number of ongoing projects with the State but per their regulations we aren’t allowed to discuss those.” Rucks followed up with a question, “What is the Chamber doing for the youth? Are we talking to bowling alleys or anything geared toward the youth in the community?” Luther said, “That is always a top priority for us.” He then pointed to the addition of the play zone known as Excalibur and their services for the young of the community.” That request was funded by unanimous vote. 

Coffman then moved to a request for almost $6 Million to South Arkansas College to expand their current stadium facilities construction project from a standard collegiate baseball stadium to a Diamond Sports Stadium. The term is a distinction that separates normal run-of-the-mill baseball parks from facilities that have multiple uses. The Mayor pointed the Council to a copy of the proposal, which was put together by South Arkansas College President Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez. Tully-Dartez initially served in the interim role as President beginning in the 2023-24 school year, then in July of 2024 accepted the position and removed the interim title. She and her husband, Shawn, moved to El Dorado in 2007 and she has held numerous positions with the college since 2009. Tully-Dartez made herself available to the Council and was met with immediate praise for her presentation she had made to the El Dorado Works Board. Ward One Alderman Jill Weinischke said, “I am ready to submit a motion now for approval of this.” Ward Four Alderman Buddy McAdams said, “You may have to fight me for the right to make this motion, this is exciting and I think it is a fabulous plan.” McAdams also said, “We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that the first $10 Million for this project is coming from Murphy Oil. So here, we have an opportunity to partner with private dollars and make this more than just a stadium but an economic draw for our community.” Council Members asked Tully-Dartez if this meant the facility would be available for more than just college baseball with this new designation. “Absolutely!” Tully-Dartez said, “We think the idea of having high school or Boys and Girls Club teams playing on a college field will be great for them and the community.” She said, in her estimation, the facility would be available for more than just baseball games. “I think we could see flag football games, cheer competitions and more. As a matter of fact, I saw where the University of Arkansas’ Baseball complex was recently rented out for a wedding, so we could have weddings there too!”

Advertisement

COMING TOMORROW ON SOUTHARKANSASNOW.COM: $25 Million in Construction? According to South Arkansas College, that is what they are currently working on. The Council also had more funding requests, as well as, the Mayor’s Constitutionally Required State of City Address and Updates on the State’s Legislative Audit Findings.