After some discussion Thursday, the El Dorado Works Board agreed on a funding request that was supported by Mayor Frank Hash to bolster the water infrastructure at Mellor Park Mall to make way for new and expanding businesses there.
Hash said the situation had become murky and boiled down to a question of who was responsible for the fire hydrants at the mall: the El Dorado Water Utilities or the property owner, Multi-State Holdings.
Multi-State is based in Effingham, Illinois, and is owned and operated by Dr. Surendra Agarwal and his son Sajal Agarwal.
The mayor explained that replacing two missing fire hydrants at Mellor Park Mall is required to accommodate a new Hobby Lobby and the expansion of an existing discount store, Dollar Tree.
The News-Times previously reported that Hobby Lobby will move into the Dollar Tree space, and discount retailer will relocate within Mellor Park Mall.