Superior Mayor Dave Ross is proposing a new way of doing business at the Nemadji Golf Course.
Instead of hiring a manager and using city staff to maintain the course, Ross wants to put the course under a management agreement similar to the way the city's marina at Barker's Island is operated.
With the golf course losing about $70,000 last year, Ross said it would be irresponsible not to address the issue. The change would mean taxpayers would no longer have to support the golf course, and the city would not have to hire about 34 seasonal employees to maintain the grounds.
Ross will ask the council today to allow city officials to begin negotiations with Mark Carlson and Steve Flagstaff, who operate the golf course for the city, to come to a management agreement.
"Changes have to be made," Ross said. With a good management agreement, Ross said he is confident the golf course can be profitable again and give the city a return on its investment.
Ross said he would like to forgo the bidding process to allow for a seamless transition from current management practices.
"Should that plan advance, nothing from the golfers' perspective would change," Carlson said Friday. "It would be a transparent change, and the lease would be similar to the city contract of Dan and Kathy Pendergast for the clubhouse food and beverage service."
The initial management agreement would last two or three years, then it would go up for public bid, Ross said.
Ross said he plans to model the management agreement after the agreement the city has with Sailboats Inc. for operation of the marina.
Jack Culley, president of Sailboats Inc., hires employees to operate the marina and provides the city with annual lease payments based on dock fees. The city, however, maintains ownership of the marina.
The same would be true of the Nemadji Golf Course if the council decides to accept a management agreement. The city would maintain ownership of the course, and Carlson and Flagstaff would hire the staff needed to maintain and operate it, in addition to leasing the course from the city.
"All services, policies and fees would remain the same with the exception of the golf employees being paid by the professional management company, rather than the city," Carlson said. "The management company would be held to the same high standards now in place at the highly regarded Nemadji Golf Course."
Without the management agreement, Carlson said the cost of a season ticket would rise from $50 to $80 next year, in addition to reductions in golf course maintenance. If the agreement is accepted, golf rates and maintenance would remain the same next year.
Carlson said he and Flagstaff would continue "excellent maintenance and services at Nemadji. Jobs would be offered to all current employees including grounds crew workers, starters, rangers, mechanic and management employees."
Source: Duluth News-Tribune