Arkadelphia board tables talk of fee increases for admission to city pool, Rec Center

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

A proposed but “modest” fee increase for certain city-maintained facilities will have to wait for final approval from the Arkadelphia Board of Directors.

After reviewing changes to the fee structure for the Arkadelphia Aquatic Park and Recreation Center and before making a decision, the city board directed Parks & Recreation director Stuart Tapson to return at the next meeting with a detailed report of sales and usage from both the pool and rec center.

The proposed increases, initially set to go into effect for the 2026 season, were a product of discussion Tapson had with the city’s Parks Board Committee, which in September made a recommendation for city board approval.

Tapson said he compared Arkadelphia’s fees to cities of similar population in the Ark-La-Miss region. City Manager added that he thought it best to add modest increases annually rather than charge large after a number of years with no price jumps.

It wasn’t that directors disagreed with a fee bump to boost city profits, but rather feared that some of the proposed increases might repel citizens from using the facilities.

Directors Emily Merryman and Jason Jones were the most vocal when it came to opposing the increases.

Patrons of Parks & Rec functions are likely to see fees increase for programs, as well, though those details will be brought up later, according to a memo to city directors.

In other business Tuesday evening, the city board:

• Learned there were no reportable findings in the 2024 Legislative Audit review.

• Agreed to award $12,180 in backpay to Susan Lemons’s from the Arkadelphia Firemen’s Pension and Relief Fund. Lemons had been underpaid $50 per month for 13 years; with interest, the total came to $12,180.

• Approved a bid of $40,500 to replace the east parking lot at Arkadelphia Police Department. The lot in recent days has been removed by the city’s Street Department. The rubble from that job will be stored away for future use to stabilize eroding creek banks. The lone bidder was the Arkadelphia-based Mar-Von Concrete Construction.