A job offer has been made for a new director for The Auditorium.
The Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission confirmed that director Scott Bardin had made an offer to an applicant before its July 26 regular meeting, then the commission went into executive session to discuss the choice for the role.
“Scott made an offer to an Auditorium director,” CAPC chair Chris Clifton said. “We would like to hear about it and give the blessing before it’s finalized.”
The name of the person offered the job was not discussed at the meeting.
“This person is in a fairly public position … It wouldn’t be prudent to discuss it in public and jeopardize their employment with their other position, so I would recommend that we go to executive session specifically to discuss this person for hire for the Auditorium director position,” Clifton said. “I wanted to explain it because I know there’s been people in the past thinking we might be hiding something, but really this person is currently employed and we don’t want to jeopardize their employment …” Commissioners were in executive session for approximately 38 minutes. When they returned to the open meeting it was indicated there was no motion to be made as a result of the closed forum.
“We don’t have a motion to make because there’s no objection to Scott moving forward with the hire,” Clifton said. “As that transpires obviously the name will be released and then it will fit within all the parameters.”
The name of anyone submitting an application or a resume for a publicly funded position is public record and subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act. The Eureka Springs Times-Echo requested information on all the applicants for the position through the FOIA, but that information hadn’t been received from the city as of Wednesday morning, Aug. 2.
A message to Bardin requesting an update on the hire also were not returned as of Wednesday morning.
FINANCIAL, MARKETING REPORTS As of June 30, the CAPC had a bank balance of $1,928,537.55, an increase of $75,697.84 from the end of May, according to Bardin.
Tax collections for June included $105,859 for food and beverage, 18 percent more than the $90,000 budgeted. In lodging, $98,305 was collected, $3,305 more than the $95,000 budgeted. In total, collections were $15,758 more than what was budgeted for the month and $16,751 more than during the same time period a year ago, Bardin reported.
Through the first six months of 2023, the CAPC has collected $963,581, Bardin said, while $837,582 was received through June of 2022.
“The net effect is we’ve collected $125,999 more when you compare those two time periods,” he said. “Or 15 percent more.”
Commissioner David Avanzino asked if there was a way to factor in current inflation costs for restaurants when analyzing tax collections.
“I’m just curious because, when looking at these numbers and as an owner of a restaurant, our prices have gone up and so we have to charge more,” said Avanzino, who owns Wanderoo Lodge and Gravel Bar. “I’m just curious to know what the difference would be in reporting if we took out an average or a standard inflation rate and factor that into our numbers to be more accurate.
“I can tell you, on my end, everything from cucumbers to sliced ham is almost double what it was last year.”
Bardin said he would look into whether it was possible to factor in inflation in future reports.
In his marketing report, Bardin said inhouse social media platforms continue to gain more followers and continued events such as Music in the Park remain popular.
Planning efforts are underway for the city’s role in a sponsorship with Bikes, Blues & Barbecue.
“We’re working alongside that media team to promote Eureka on socials and websites,” Bardin said. “We even created an event page on our website, Eureka Bike Fest.”
Bardin said the BB&B event will include a VIP pass option for attendees that will include various perks, including early entrance into venues.
In addition to upcoming shows in The Auditorium, plans in the works include fall entertainment at Basin Spring Park, Oktoberfest and Folk Festival. Talks are already happening for what Bardin hopes is an improved lights display for Christmas as well, he said.
“We are in the midst of planning for holiday events,” he said. “We’re working with the chamber and I met a gentleman last week and his business is installing Christmas lights and Christmas decorations. We walked through town with him, pointing out different areas and what was owned by the city.”
The CAPC will receive an estimate for various projects related to the holiday decorations, Bardin said.
ONE MEETING OK’D
The commission unanimously approved only having one regular meeting each month.
Typically one regular meeting and one workshop were scheduled every month, but commissioners felt workshops should only be scheduled if a topic is important enough to garner public input.
“I think workshops should be more focused and more advertised to get people in to talk about a specific subject,” commissioner Steve Holifield said. “These open workshops, we have one person attend pretty consistently, but not a big crowd…”
‘REMARKABLE WORK’
Clifton opened the meeting with his chairman comments, offering vibrant praise for the commission and CAPC staff.
“Hopefully the public has seen a change in the commission, and openness, and working with everyone, and it seems like it’s been a lot of communication going on with the staff and merchants here in town,” Clifton said. “A lot of activity and good things going on and working towards improvement. So, I’m super excited about that.
“Kudos to Scott. I think he’s done a really good job leading his staff and that office is doing remarkable work.”
