(KNSI) — The potential sale of Pine Ridge Golf Course in Sartell is up for a vote for a second time.
The first vote was set for May 8th but was tabled after some residents spoke against the agreement with Three Tees LLC.
The city is mulling over a $426,000 offer for the nine-hole 81-acre course. The agreement calls for the land to remain a golf course for the next 30 years and terminate the ten year lease with the current operator, Boulder Ridge, at the end of the season. Boulder Ridge would then be free to negotiate with the new owners. Lease revenue is used to fund Scheel’s Athletic Complex.
City officials say the property needs major upgrades, including a new parking lot and irrigation system, and the clubhouse does not currently meet building codes and isn’t prepared to invest in the facility. The upgrades could cost around $400,000.
When the agreement was tabled, Mayor Ryan Fitzthum said he wanted more information on an alternative to the two options city staff presented. He says it is more than a choice between signing an agreement with Three Tees LLC or preparing to raise taxes to help pay for repairs.
Last week, the city released renderings of what a new clubhouse and restaurant would look like if the property is sold. The renderings also show an outdoor patio and pro shop, plus a new parking lot.
According to officials, Minnesota’s weather means income for only about six months out of the year. Another potential problem for the land is that it is prone to flooding. It has spent much of the spring underwater.
Two former mayors and several ex-council members penned a letter to the current group urging them to vote no.
Sartell bought the 18-hole 160 acres course in 2008 for around $3.5 million, then split off and developed half of it into Central Park Boulevard and Pinecone Central Park. The rest of the course has been leased.
The meeting gets underway at 6:00 p.m. at Sartell City Hall.
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