It is time to stand up, and let other residents know that you are concerned. Your comments, agree or not, are welcome, and will be published without your name. Send your emails to: wedgefieldexaminerthe@yahoo.com
The Wedgefield Examiner took notes throughout the entire meeting, to the best of my ability. I can't send you to the WPA website to listen to a tape of the meeting to verify for yourself, because the board has removed the monthly meeting tapes from their website, so forget them providing a tape of this meeting.
The county presentation was provided by Brian Tucker. I found his presentation to be complete, and informative, to the subject. He provided a question period after the presentation. Like the subject, or not, he did an excellent job of providing the information.
He started with background information on how the discussion of the possible purchase of the Wedgefield Golf Club came about. It began in Feb. 2017 at a council retreat. They would look at a feasibility study to determine if it made sense for the county to purchase the course and put it in operation. He ended this portion of the discussion by stating that there were no definite plans for the county to buy the golf course. It is STILL in the CONVERSATION stage.
Is there real interest by private sector operators to buy the course? If there is the county must re-evaluate. If not, what structure financially makes sense?
After that consideration the county must look at a number of things. What is the cost to buy? The cost to renovate? The cost to run? The county understands that property values benefit when it is an operating course. Is it a place for county recreation benefit? The county has looked at the benefits, and it must look at the downside - the risk. Don't know how much the cost to run is. How much revenue does it create? The county must be good stewards of the tax dollars, our tax dollars, and everyone else in the county. Again, is there a private concern who is interested in operating it as a golf course - NOT DEVELOPMENT - building?
The county has come to some assumptions after hundreds of hours. They've talked to people who knew the course, those who have been operating courses, courses near and far operated in a county structure, etc. He stated that purchase is the easiest part of the equation. HERE ARE THE ASSUMPTIONS:
*Believe they could purchase for $700,000
*Renovations - $300,000 - $1,000,000 - dependent on conditions and plans
*Annual operation - $500,000 - $800,000
*Income/Revenue (estimate) membership and rounds - $400,000 - $700,000 - won't know until owner gets into it
*Anticipate deficit of $200,000 - $300,000 for 3-5 years. They don't think it can support itself for 3-5 years
*As to private sector interest - consistently dealing with 3-4 prospects. One group will be revisiting in the next two days for the fifth time. When there is interest, the county needs to take a step back. Is there even a role for us? Should government be doing? Government is about doing what the private sector can't do. The county won't push private sector out. The county is also charged with doing what is in the best interests of the residents. What if everybody falls away? He said the county will come back to the table to figure it out.
How to buy it? Write a check for it. That is the easiest part. The biggest hurdle is, how to operate it? Would that be through Parks and Recreation Department? We could buy it (county) and lease it out. He recommended putting it out to lease.
The community is going to have to support it - Wedgefield community. There would have to be a financial commitment to it. The early rough numbers indicate that that would be $500/yr, per resident/lot, for as long as it is losing money. How could the $500 be collected? Through HOA assessments, or through a special tax district - you ask us to raise (county). Who pays how much? Do golf course lots pay more? If the county owns it, it must be available to ALL county residents, and at an affordable rate. IF COUNTY WERE TO OWN, AND A SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT OPTION CALLED ON 75% OF TOTAL PROPERTY OWNERS MUST SIGN THE PETITION.
NOTE: The information provided above is taken from the notes I took while Brian Tucker was speaking. I've been as complete as I can be. I wrote as he spoke which isn't easy. So when the word WE is used it is the county. At this point Brian Tucker has finished his presentation, and it was open to resident questions. I'd guess there was around 100 people. I didn't count. I'll provide a few of the questions, and his answers to the best of my ability.
*Will the county give incentives to possible private buyers? No, state statute doesn't allow - no category.
*If it is run by Parks and Recreation does it have to be a golf course? Yes.
*Could grants be sought? The golf course drains into the canals that already need dredging. Something about can we get help for that? Answer wasn't clear, but possibility someone could seek grants.
*What about pool and manor house? Answer sounded like right now that the figures provided above do not include those assets. More investigation into options would have to follow.
*As to tax district would the vacant lots have to pay the same as built lots? Briefly, it sounded as though he said that if we actually reached this point, that we would have to bring a package recommendation to the county that addressed who pays what to come up with the total of $500 per year times the total number of properties.
*If you own more than one lot, do you get to vote each lot? Example - own 3 lots, do I vote, sign petition, etc., three times? YES.
WRAP UP:
During the question and answer period a resident leader of the program suggested a show of hands for support of the county purchasing the golf course. Initially Tucker said later. As he moved along answering questions he said that there would be no call for a show of hands that he wasn't going to have neighbor sitting by neighbor, asked to visually/publicly show their vote. There were petitions available for signature at the front.
THAT'S ALL FOLKS! I DID THE BEST I COULD. HOPE I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT. IF SO, IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL. I HAVE NOT PUT ANY COMMENTS/OPINIONS IN THIS ARTICLE. I FELT WE ALL NEEDED TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE, JUST WHAT THE COUNTY WAS THINKING AND CONSIDERING, IN ORDER TO MAKE ANY SOUND DECISION FOR OURSELVES. BRIAN TUCKER DID A GREAT JOB BRINGING US FACT. IT APPEARED THAT HE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY BUYING THE GOLF COURSE, AS DESCRIBED. PEOPLE ATTENDING WERE NOT FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION AND SIGN THE PETITIONS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR HIM TO HAVE A YES, OR NO, AT THIS STAGE. YOUR RESPONSE CAN BE AS LITTLE AS ONE LINE IN AN EMAIL SENT DIRECTLY TO HIM WITH A YES, OR NO, AND HOW MANY PROPERTIES YOU OWN.
My not so humble opinion of an example. "Should the county buy the Wedgefield Golf Course? YES, OR NO, NOTED, # of lots, and your name and address. This will go directly to Brian Tucker at the following email address:
btucker@gtcounty.org
