Meridian officials are negotiating with a golf course operator to try to resolve long-running disputes over maintenance, repairs and trespassing at the city-owned Cherry Lane Golf Course.
At issue is whether the city or the operators should pay to fix poorly built greens, a failing, inadequate irrigation system, and poor maintenance on the greens and fairways.
The city is also trying to hammer out a revised trespassing ordinance for golf course land that both residents and course operators will accept. Course operators say people who aren't golfing but are on the course could get injured or interfere with play. Homeowners say they want to make sure they aren't fined for maintaining golf course land behind their homes.
While negotiations continue, some homeowners who live along the course say they are fed up with the ongoing conflict, and just want the city to take some action to clean up the course.
"The taxpayers of Meridian were raped when they signed this contract," said Vernon Croft , who has lived on the golf course since 1991. "I don't think the city managers should sit idly by and let the thing continue like it is. They have a responsibility."
The conflict dates back to the original lease with Cherry Lane Recreation, signed in 1978.
The Lovan family has operated the course at 4200 W. Talamore Blvd. from the beginning.
It pays the city $6,000 a year to lease the course.
"It's always been our goal to have a working relationship with the tenant. We are opening the lines of communication to try to move forward," City Councilman Shaun Wardle said. " All the city really wants is green grass and for a landscaping condition that is complimentary to the surrounding homes."
Nancy Link , a golf course manager, said she hopes the city and Cherry Lane can reach an agreement that will make the neighbors happy.
"I think we can. It's just one of those ongoing things," she said.
"We have to educate people about the lease agreement and educate people about what is acceptable. Some of the homeowners are not golfers, so they have a mistaken belief this is a park."
When the lease expires in 2033, the course reverts to the city, including the clubhouse, parking lot and outbuilding Cherry Lane Recreation paid for.
Then the city can choose to run the golf course, renew the lease with Cherry Lane Recreation or find another operator.
"The perception is that Cherry lane isn't putting in their fair share," Link said. "From our perspective, we have put in over the life of the golf course far more than our share."
Whether or not that is true, Wardle said, the city will not ask the taxpayers to pay for problems at the course.
"The one question that has been answered is a commitment not to bond to fix the sprinkler system," he said.
Homeowner Dick Frost said he chooses to drive to another course miles away, rather than play at Cherry Lane -- which literally is in his back yard.
"We play at Purple Sage," Frost said. "I'd rather play on a course that's well-maintained and you can enjoy it."
Croft and Frost said many homeowners water, weed and fertilize golf course land behind their homes so they don't have to look at dead grass and weeds.
Frost said he and several neighbors put in a rock-and-gravel cart path, pulled weeds, and planted trees at the No. 12 tee box to improve the look behind their homes.
"We are not the lessee. We did it and it looks a lot better now," Frost said.
"I know a lot of homeowners who water and fertilize. I don't do it because that's what they are leasing the course for."
At the same time, the city is trying to revise a trespassing ordinance for the course, reducing what had been a misdemeanor to an infraction. The city must still settle how much trespassers could be fined and who can be on the golf course, and when.
It's all designed to keep people safe, Link said. For example, operators have no problems with residents coming on to the course for maintenance.
But they worry about the safety of children playing Frisbee or football in the middle of a fairway. she said.
"The other day we had a woman pushing her baby carriage across the fairway," Link said.
Wardle said residents should give the city a little extra time to try to come to an agreement, outside a courtroom.
"The golf course residents have been extremely patient with the city and with Cherry Lane Recreation," Wardle said.
"I would like to have something for open discussion purposes very shortly. At the same time, this is an issue the city has been dealing with for decades."
Source: Idaho Statesman (Boise)
