Parks Director Sam Dudley said at the April 16 meeting that Spring Break had been “good and busy” with the campgrounds full. He added that the eclipse had had a hand in that.
Harmon Park has had an HVAC unit installed at the workshop and a plumber is coming to fix the bathrooms. Electric work and sheetrock need completion.
Leon Willis is doing a mural on the bathroom, which has been paid for by the Arts Council, and Dudley was impressed with the work done. A small greenhouse is being built to replace what Dudley referred to as “the ugly shed,” and will provide an area for the gardeners to use.
At Basin Park, railings for the bandshell are being worked on, four more benches have been installed, and eight more will be put in before Memorial Day. Dudley noted that the Sweet Spring drone video went well, and also that the Starlink Internet is up and running at Lake Leatherwood Park.
Main Street Eureka Springs is funding four of five new trail map kiosks for Basin Spring, Crescent Spring, Sweet Spring, Harmon Park, and the Music Park. Dudley also thanked Dustin from C&C for making lovely wooden trail signs so visitors can explore the city and not worry about trespassing where they shouldn’t. All signs should be up by summer.
Chair Mark Ingram that the finance committee needs reconciliation, and a new auditor will be looking into it.
A profit was made off the sale of a tractor, and 92 percent of the month’s budget was spent on repairing cabins which should be good for the rest of the year. There is $1,000 left for funding contract work. Parks is currently ahead for the quarter by $24,000, although that doesn’t take into account some bills that were paid in April. Parks brought in $56,000 from lodging for during the first quarter.
Ingram urged Dudley to keep track of all invoices and enter them into QuickBooks to ensure all financial transactions are tracked and recorded. Dudley presented a revised budget to reflect things that have been passed and added to the budget by the commission over the past few months, and employee payroll changes.
Park attendants will receive raises as two have returned for the year to their seasonal positions. They will each get a one dollar an hour raise, which was approved.