The Rodeo Arena

Four months after the topic first appeared on a City Council agenda, Yoakum City Manager Kevin Coleman publicly presented a draft agreement concerning the introduction of membership fees for the city’s rodeo arena last Tuesday.

Coleman explained during the July 12 meeting that he had met with the group of men looking to operate the arena the night prior for their input on the draft agreement. 

Though the idea received backlash from some arena users at previous meetings, the input of opposing viewpoints was not used in creating the draft agreement. Coleman said it was important to formally finalize the concept of the group looking to operate the arena before opening their idea up for critique. 

The council emphasized the unofficial nature of the draft agreement presented and planned an unofficial meeting between the parties with conflicting viewpoints in order to find a middle ground. 

City staff distributed copies of the draft agreement to meeting attendees who spoke out against it; Councilmember Michael Brandt asked them to notate any desired changes for further discussion at the unofficial meeting.

View the current draft agreement as of press time online at LavacaCountyToday.com/draftagreement.

Herald-Times staff spoke with individuals representing both perspectives on the proposed agreement for clarification on their desires for the Yoakum Rodeo Arena:

Pro-membership fees

Marlin Galloway first presented the idea of limiting public access to the arena and implementing membership fees to raise funds for facility improvement at the April 12 Council meeting. He has returned each month to represent a group of five people that hope to breathe life into the rodeo arena and provide a space for kids to practice rodeo sports.

Though the group does not yet have an official name, Galloway said they typically host bull riding classes at the arena every other weekend for kids ages 3 through 19. The group provides equipment, animals and free lessons that attract 10 to 35 children; he said they also share their passion with young adults who have expressed interest in learning the sport.

“The arena has been the same way for the last 11 years that I know of. It's just been there. No one's done anything,” said Galloway July 17. “Maybe some dirt work, but the facility is run down. We've been using it to practice and we all had ideas. You know, this could be fixed; we could put a gate here.”

Each of the five members pledged $500 of their own money as initial funds for facility improvements if they become the facility operators. Galloway said they hope to limit access to the arena because it is often damaged and littered with debris from inconsiderate visitors. 

“The arena has just gone down (in quality); nothing gets repaired. It needs to be kept up,” he said. “I'm a welder by trade, I go over there and I weld in the arena and I fix gates, fix latches and weld bars with a crack. You know, nobody's done that for years.”

While no membership fee amount is listed, the draft agreement states that 25% of the funds would be received by the CIty. The remaining 75% would cover required insurance and any facility improvements. Galloway said the group was prepared to put in sweat equity to help the arena reach its full potential.

The arena would be accessible by the public for free from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m on weekdays; a combination given to members would be required for entrance for the remaining operating hours. The initial term would be one year, with the initial agreement renewable by Council for up to three additional one-year periods.

“Our goal is to put Yoakum back on the map. Every one of us has ridden there…,” Galloway said. “I have people calling me and telling me it's a great thing that we're doing. If we need help, call; they'll come help.”

Against membership fees

Brittani Richter and Kim Chandler are a pair of local moms who have used the free arena for more than a decade and now take their families to enjoy horseback riding. They spoke out against membership fees at the July 12 meeting and feel there are ways to maintain the arena without charging guests.

Chandler said she uses the arena an average of three days each week. Richter recalled fond memories of her years in the free facility, like getting married in the arena and helping paint it when she was in school.

“The biggest pushback that I feel like we have with the contract is the membership fee, and we have offered ways of us putting on different events and donating the money to the cause of reestablishing the arena,” said Richter last Friday.

Richter and Chandler said they represented five to ten local families who use the arena and feel similarly. While they believe an organization would be beneficial for operating the arena, they disagreed with some of the main ideas and vague nature of the proposed agreement.

“Where in the contract does it say: in 90 days we’re going to have it painted, or we’re going to have the windows replaced,” said Chandler. “Give them a time limit, give them specifications and make them be held accountable to those things in order for this to be beneficial for everybody.”

They listed free rodeo arenas in Hallettsville, Cuero and Gonzales and expressed that the community of Yoakum should continue to enjoy a complimentary facility to enjoy and use for events.

“I do think it should be public, but I also do think that we should find a way to (keep) an eye on the people who’s here because of the people that do come in here and do donuts in the area and the people who throw trash and really shouldn’t be here. I think it’s just going to be a balance of keeping it free but also (maintaining it).”

The two moms said they shared a goal with the group of five of seeing an improved arena, though they felt their families wouldn’t be represented through the draft agreement.

“We want change just as bad as them, but we want to be included in the change, and we want everybody to benefit from it…,” said Chandler. “Now that it's going to get to the point where we have to pay something, it’s time for us to become involved. It’s not that we’re against the change; we want to be a part of it. We want to help with it, and we want our ideas and opinions to be heard.”