Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com

The City of El Dorado is asking for the residents of the city to give their input on what projects to move forward in 2025 through sales tax funds. The Excess Sales Tax Committee is meeting routinely to make their recommendation to the City Commission and will take into account resident preference.

On the website the City reports that $700,000 is available to allocate towards projects. Several items are on the list to vote on, including the following:

Civic Center Remodel: $300,000 – This would update the Civic Center facade, flooring, interior paint, and lights and sound equipment.

Small Business Assistance: $100,000 – To support the growth and sustainability of local small businesses and the recruitment of businesses to fill the empty spaces in our city, the city proposes the establishment of a Small Business Assistance Fund. This would provide financial aid to businesses including grant offerings or low-interest loans to assist with property improvements, compliance with regulatory requirements, and technological advancements to enhance business resilience and marketing initiatives for new businesses.

Media Production Room: $30,000 – The establishment of a dedicated Media Production Room will provide an environment where team members can design and produce high-quality media content such as videos, interviews, tutorials, and social media posts to better inform and educate the community.

Housing Programs: $50,000 – The City is currently holding discussions with the Housing Committee and would like to provide funding to kick off their recommendations. This could include items such as down payment assistance or development incentives.

Kiosk in Downtown: $15,000 – City staff would like to include this kiosk in the improvements being made downtown. The digital sign would provide information about downtown, businesses, city events and more.

Property Maintenance Assistance: $50,000 – To address ongoing building code compliance and code enforcement challenges, the city proposes the establishment of a Property Maintenance Fund. This would provide financial assistance to property owners facing difficulties in meeting code requirements, ensuring safer and well-maintained buildings within our community. The fund would support essential repairs, structural improvements, and compliance upgrades, helping to prevent violations, enhance public safety, and maintain property values. Eligible expenses could include roof and foundation repairs, electrical and plumbing updates, and accessibility modifications. By implementing this initiative, we can proactively assist property owners, reduce enforcement burdens, and foster a safer, more sustainable community.

Belle Vista Cemetery Surfacing Project: $100,000 – This would allow for the paving of the roads at Belle Vista Cemetery. Belle Vista is the oldest cemetery in the system and is in need of upgraded roads for cemetery visitors. The safety of cemetery visitors is the primary reason for this request. The current roads are mainly gravel or milling and have many ruts and potholes in them. Many visitors are elderly and often use walkers or canes to access grave space.

Bike Path Bridge Repair: $30,000 – The wooden bridge along the bike path requires essential repairs to ensure safety and longevity. Issues include deteriorating planks and structural wear from weather exposure. The city proposes replacing damaged planks and applying a protective sealant to prevent future decay. These repairs will improve rider safety, extend the bridge’s lifespan, and maintain the path’s accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians.

Surveying Equipment: $40,000 – This would upgrade to a new Trimble RTK GPS system, which is used for critical tasks, including project design surveying, construction staking and utility mapping. This technology provides millimeter accuracy, which is essential for reliable designs, precise infrastructure placement, and accurate utility records. The new system will enhance efficiency, accuracy, and integration with current technologies.

BMX Facility: $50,000 – The BMX park has recently experienced renewed interest. Many members of the community have given their time and effort to improve the facility. The City will be proposing the adoption of this park as an official city park and would like to make improvements. These improvements would include an official park sign, fencing and possible new equipment.

Police Mobile Radio Replacement: $75,000 – This would replace the 15 mobile radios that are currently in service. They are 15 years old and are at their end of life for use. Mobile radios are the most vital resource that officers have for communication during any event.

West Park Playground: $200,000 – Currently, residents in the northwest portion of El Dorado are at least one mile from any of the city-owned parks. The closest city-owned playground is at BG Stadium, which would require crossing the truck route to access the facility. Staff are proposing a playground to be located at approximately the 2500 block of West Sixth Avenue.

This park would include such things as playground equipment for the children, as well as seating areas for adults and families to enjoy, providing more outdoor recreational opportunities for individuals and families in this area of town.

Holiday Decoration Replacement: $50,000 – Many of the holiday decorations used on the light posts throughout El Dorado have aged significantly. These funds would be used to replace decorations on the poles in the downtown area. Staff will request funding for this project each year for a period of four years.

Street Maintenance: $100,000 – This would provide an additional $100,000 in street maintenance for improved streets in addition to the $700,000 of sales tax allotted by statute from sales tax funds.

Street Maintenance: $200,000 – This would provide an additional $200,000 in street maintenance for improved streets in addition to the $700,000 of sales tax allotted by statute from sales tax funds.

Street Maintenance: $300,000 – This would provide an additional $300,000 in street maintenance for improved streets in addition to the $700,000 of sales tax allotted by statute from sales tax funds.

Street Maintenance: $400,000 – This would provide an additional $300,000 in street maintenance for improved streets in addition to the $700,000 of sales tax allotted by statute from sales tax funds.

Street Maintenance: $500,000 – This would provide an additional $300,000 in street maintenance for improved streets in addition to the $700,000 of sales tax allotted by statute from sales tax funds.

Residents of the City of El Dorado can vote on which projects are most important to them by visiting the city website, https://el_dorado.abalancingact.com/2025-excess-sales-tax-projects.