City limits public access to offices
City services to continue
In an ongoing effort to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID19) to El Dorado and Union County, El Dorado city officials will continue to restrict public access to city offices and employees.
City officials and department heads decided last Friday to limit public access to City Hall, the El Dorado Water Utilities office, El Dorado Fire Department stations and other city offices.
Mayor Veronica SmithCreer and Robert Edmonds, director of public works, previously said city officials and department heads would re-evaluate the situation this week to determine if the safeguards would remain in place to address public health concerns regarding the virus COVID-19.
City officials said they are closely monitoring developments and updates about the nationwide coronavirus pandemic and are taking guidance and direction from the Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
On Monday, city officials announced that public access to City Hall will continue to be restricted until further notice and residents are encouraged to do business with City Hall by phone if possible.
City Hall employees will continue working from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m., Monday Friday.
The El Dorado Police Department administrative offices will continue to operate during normal business hours and the front lobby of EPD headquarters will remain open.
Residents are encouraged to call 911 for emergencies and 870-863-4141 for non-emergency reports.
The administrative offices of the El Dorado Fire Department are located in City Hall.
City Hall offices and numbers include:
• Mayor – 870-862-7911
• City Clerk – 870-8814877
• Public Works – 870-8634244
• Treasurer – 870-881-4860
• City Inspector – 870881-4869
• City Collector – 870-8814867
• Accounts Payable – 870881-4862
• Personnel/Payroll – 870881-4865
• Code Enforcement – 870-881-4889
• Fire Department - 870881-4855
El Dorado Water Utilities
Public access will continue to be restricted for the El Dorado Water Utilities’ office, 500 N. Washington.
The drive-through payment window will remain open. Payments may also be made online www.eldoradowater.com, by mail or the drop-box in the drivethrough lane.
Credit card payments may also be made by calling the EWU office at 870-862-6451.
Customers must still pay their bills and they are urged to pay their bills as
soon as they can.
However, to ensure that services are not interrupted for customers, the EWU has suspended disconnections and late fees for unpaid water bills for 30 days.
The utilities also reassured residents that the city’s water supply system is safe.
The Sparta Aquifer is the city’s primary source of potable water and the EWU treats the city’s drinking water with chlorine and a small amount of fluoride.
Citizens Police Academy
The EPD has postponed its Citizens Police Academy, which was scheduled to begin April 14.
Police Chief Kenny Hickman said the department will hold onto the applications that have been submitted and applicants will be notified when a new date for the academy has been set.
Hickman said the academy will likely be rescheduled in the spring or fall to avoid extreme weather conditions that can occur in the summer and winter.
“Personally, I am gratified for the interest shown thus far and look forward to meeting many of you in the future,” he said.
El Dorado-Union County Recreation Complex
Under a directive issued by the Arkansas Activities Association, the El DoradoUnion County Recreation Complex has canceled sports and activities at the facility until March 30.
The AAA has called for the cancellation of spring sports and activities around the state and has said that it will reassess the situation at the end of the month.
People who have reserved the complex and have not yet heard from the complex manager, call Scott McMurry at 870-866-3931.