January 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Would you like to lease the Smithville Golf Course?
After a year of city management, the mayor and aldermen have decided to once again lease the operation of the golf course to a new tenant for a nominal fee, possibly as low as a dollar a year.
During a special meeting held Tuesday night at city hall, the aldermen voted to advertise that the city will be seeking a response or bids from persons or entities, preferably with golf course/management experience, who are interested in leasing the golf course and managing the swimming pool.
The aldermen have also given City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson and City Attorney Vester Parsley the authority to establish terms of the lease subject to their review and final approval.
As for the swimming pool and tennis courts, the city will maintain control and pay all expenses and collect fees but the new golf course tenant will be expected to oversee the operation of the pool as manager.
During the last year the city has invested in the purchase of golf course maintenance equipment, entered into a four year lease for the use of golf carts at $1,095 per month, and hired co-managers who have since resigned, plus other expenses.
The bottom line is the operation of the golf course has been costly to the city.
“After spending all that money I know we were trying to keep it for ourselves (city) but I really think we need to consider putting it out for lease at this time. I know we have to work out the details but we definitely don’t need to do another lease like we had the last time,” said Mayor Josh Miller.
Plans are to include terms giving the new tenant options of leasing or purchasing the city’s golf course maintenance equipment and assuming the city’s golf cart lease, if transferrable or reimbursing the city for its costs of leasing the golf carts.
“I think if they (tenant) will pick up the lease or terms on the carts that puts us (city) at zero on that and if they will do something with the equipment, buy or lease, that gets us somewhere close to zero on that. I think anything negative over $450,000 is fine with me because we have lost about a quarter of a million dollars over the last few years,” said Alderman Brandon Cox.
City officials admit that while the pool is not a money maker either, it provides a service to families, especially youngsters. By not including the pool in with the golf course lease, the city does not forfeit its eligibility to apply for parks and recreational grants for the pool.
“Operating that pool is a service. There are a lot of people who take advantage of that pool. There is a smaller number who take advantage of the golf course. We don’t have a lot to do here for kids. That’s something for them to do. I’m okay with going in the hole to provide a service to kids but the golf course is a different story. If we get the pool fixed and minimize our costs I’m okay with spending $15 to 20, or $30 thousand dollars a year to provide that service,” added Alderman Cox.
Mayor Miller said the city last year spent $30,000 just in life guard salaries. The pool is also leaking badly and will have to be repaired before it re-opens in May.
The golf course remains open for now as long as the daily high temperature is over 45 degrees. Its currently under the supervision of city part time employees.
The mayor and aldermen will schedule another workshop and special meeting within a couple of weeks to review all bids/resumes received and possibly enter into a lease with a new golf course tenant.