After spending $2.3 million to upgrade Eagles' Landing Golf Course, which was on lease, Belton now owns it all.
The city in January offered to buy the land where the golf course sits at 4200 Bong Ave. on the Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport property. It had signed a 25-year lease with Kansas City in 1999.
Earlier this month, Kansas City agreed to sell the property for $330,000.
"If you look at the cost per acre, it is a very good price," said Belton Finance Director Mike Wade. "I think they were willing to do that because they really have no use for the land."
Belton plans to build a $500,000 clubhouse at the course to enhance its ability to generate funds. Wade said the city will use bond money for the upgrade, which he estimates would generate $200,000 to $300,000 annually. The additional revenues, he said, would come from more tournaments at the golf course and additional sales of food and beverages.
"We know that we lost some tournaments because we didn't have a clubhouse," Wade said. "The board seems to be in favor because it seems to be a no-brainer as far as generating more funds."
No public vote is required to use that type of bond.
For a while, the golf course, formerly Belton Municipal Golf Course, was the center of controversy in Belton.
Opponents had said the project was a waste of public funds because the city was spending more money for its upgrade than it was generating. But city officials insisted it was a good investment.
For seven years, the golf course was managed by Proformance Golf Inc. of Kansas City, Kan. But the city terminated the contract in June and took over its management, saying the company repeatedly failed to complete some required financial reports. Proformance disputed those claims.
"We've pretty much hired all their staff, most of whom were part time," Wade said.
City officials said the course broke even in 2002. But golf course revenues have steadily declined over the last two fiscal years. Wade blames it partly on the proliferation of golf courses in the area.
"Some of them were due to the economy in general," he said.
Source: The Kansas City Star
