Hope Tourism Commission

The Hope Tourism Commission met in the City Hall Board Room on Tuesday (7-9).  After reviewing the expenses and revenue the meeting moved on to permits and payments. There will be 7 letters sent out to businesses which are 60 days behind in their payments.

The next subject was the Watermelon Festival funding of the adult softball, cornhole, soccer, and youth softball tournaments. A motion was passed for $6,000 to cover all tournaments. Edmunds Dominguez is the soccer tournament director. There has been a lot of interest from different places such as Dequeen and Texas.

The Amtrak platform needs repair and a motion passed to approve the repair which is expected to cost $15,000.

Sparks Fly in July, Hope’s Fireworks Celebration was overall a success. 4 food trucks backed out at the last minute which caused longer lines but made other vendors happy and ready to return next year.  Hope Parks and Recreation Director Summer Chambers talked about there being a lot of children at the event. She said she was still working on the financial numbers and attendance numbers. Hope Police were commended on their job with the parking and traffic control. The budget for the event was discussed. This year there was lighting for the kid’s zone which was a success but needs expansion. Chambers talked about more security being needed and someone else doing parking in the future. Chambers recommend the portable restroom trailer be repaired rather than a new one being bought. The repair of the flooring, walls and plumbing would cost $9,500 as opposed to $64,740 to buy a new one.  She also talked about working on a grant from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Tourism and Heritage to update the Visitor’s Center.

A compressor went out in the Fair Park Coliseum. It could be a week before they have parts. There are three other units still functioning. The cost of the repair will be $8,250.

The mowing of the interstate is on the agenda. The area needs to dry-out but the issue was raised that the top part could still be mowed when it is too wet to mow lower sections.

Dr. Trevor Coffee asked for an update on the Kelly Concession Stand. There will be a meeting with Arnetta Bradford presenting a menu and the hours.

The Soccer Concession Stand is being put up to code so it can run during the Watermelon Festival.

The meeting adjourned.