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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-1996 Meeting I PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - May 29, 1996 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Mays, Chairman; Kuhlke, Vice-Chairman; Zetterberg and Todd, members; Linda Beazley, Interim Administrator for Administration; Charles Dillard, Interim Administrator for Operations; Jim Wall, Interim Attorney; Tommy Boyles, Director of Recreation Department; A. B. McKie, Jr., Comptroller; Mark Avery of the Augusta Golf Course; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission-Council and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council. Also Present: Gale Mino of WBBQ Radio and George Eskola of WJBF Television. Communication from Mr. Charles Cummings regarding the formation of a co-op between Augusta Super C Seminoles and Augusta-Richmond County, was read. At this time Mr. Cummings appeared before the Committee regarding the above communication. I Mr. Cummings: I am requesting that you endorse'the Seminoles as the City's team and with that you would have a percentage of the gate sales. I would like for you to help provide a media packet to help promote the team and hopefully with that exposure, we could gain some corporate sponsors for the team. After a short discussion, Mr. Todd: I move that we receive this as information with a timetable for action in 30 days. Mr. Zetterberg: I'll second that. Mr. Chairman: Could we expand your motion to appoint a sub-committee composed of Mr. Wall and Mr. Boyles to look at any legal aspects of the matter to discuss with us and anyone else who might be interested in serving? Mr. Todd: That's fine. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered contracts between Augusta- Richmond County and Marcus C. Fields, Larry Hawthorne, Mark James Guilfoyle, Jr., Jonay K. Bailey, Marc Anthony Coy, Christopher M. Bryant and Todd P. Jackson regarding their participation as officiants in sporting events sponsored by the Augusta-Richmond County Recreation Department. I Mr. Kuhlke: I move for approval. Mr. Zetterberg: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next discussed the Augusta Golf Course. I Mr. Avery: The golf course has deteriorated over the past few years. We have problems with the equipment, the clubhouse, the maintenance shed and the overall condition of the course. I feel that in about four to six weeks we're going to have real problems with grass up to our ankles and some decisions have to be made. If we're not going to be committed to it, then I'm afraid we're going to have to let someone like the AGA take it over, especially considering their record at Forest Hills. The golf course has made money every year we have operated and we would hope we could use some of that revenue to put back into the course for improvements. There are lease plans available we could use for equipment and we need to look at those; we could probably get the lease payments for about $3,200 a month. After further discussion, Mr. Todd: I move that we authorize him to spend the money that he has taken in as revenue this year immediately and that we also look at the urban and suburban side of recreational one-cent and see if we can do something there to develop the golf course. Mr. Kuhlke: I'll second it to get it on the floor for discussion. He probably needs to make a three-year commitment on those leases and we may need to authorize him to make such a commitment. I Mr. Todd: I'll accept that as an amendment to the motion. Let me also add to my motion that we look at outsourcing within the next 90 days. Mr. Kuhlke: I'll accept that. Mr. Zetterberg: Could we recommend that we move towards outsourcing by developing an RFP in the next 90 days? Mr. Todd: Yes, I'll accept that amendment. Mr. McKie: You would need about $54,000 for a year. At this time Mr. Don Grantham appeared before the Committee on behalf of the Augusta Golf Association regarding the Augusta Golf Course. Mr. Grantham: You either have to out source to a non- profit organization or to individuals or an organization for profit. We have been extremely successful at Forest Hills due to the efforts of many individuals who signed personal notes at the bank. A new clubhouse, utility and maintenance sheds have been built and a new watering system was installed. I think that we could work with this operation to everyone's I I advantage. You would need a manager to run it and it would function under the auspices of a committee. You would have the best of both worlds as we have done with Augusta College at Forest Hills. Mr. Kuhlke: You're talking about a public/private partnership. Mr. Grantham: That's right. The green fees and golf carts could be kept in the same price range that they are now and still be manageable to attract players. We can give you a proposal within a short period of time that would be attractive but we would need some assistance from you. Mr. Zetterberg: I'd like to modify my part of the motion that it strike outsourcing and that we request the Augusta Golf Association to submit a proposal on a partnership on running the golf course. Mr. Todd: I'll accept that. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: was adjourned. There being no further business, the meeting I Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission-Council NWM I