HomeMy WebLinkAboutJennifer Holloway Letter to MayorHonorable Mayor Tammy DeWeerd
City of Meridian
Meridian, Idaho 83642
Dear Mayor DeWeerd:
We appreciate your forwarding the letter of complaint to us at Cherry Lane Golf. Though you
have said the letter will not be addressed because it is unsigned we are interested in hearing about
citizen's concerns. Your willingness to share this information continues to build positively on the
relationship between the city and Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. As you know, we have been
working with the city for the past two years to improve the golf course and look forward to having
an open exchange of ideas.
The course always looks bad after winter, but with the long period of snow cover, it will take
some time to recover. As the spring weather improves on winter's roughness, we will be adding
sand to the bunkers. We have been working to obtain permission from the irrigation district to
improve the muddy entrance to the clubhouse. We don't like the current mess either, but can do
nothing without irrigation district approval. Our hope is that cart paths will also get a face lift.
Improvements were recommended by the city's golf course committee for the city's capital
improvement list on the golf course.
Jeff Taylor will be our golf professional, the same Jeff Taylor who has taught Meridian City
Rec adult golf lessons for the past two years. It has been a great opportunity for Tad and Jennifer
to find a position that will enable Jennifer to be a say at home mom, something she has long
wanted to do. The Lovans have always embraced strong family values and it will be a joy for her
to spend more time with their son, Nikkoli.
Rumors sometimes make us laugh. If only we had 400 members and 300 golf carts. People
who live on the course only need to watch out their back doors to see that traffic on the course is
far, far from the rumor in this letter.
We would appreciate the person writing this letter addressing us directly. We would be happy
to field inquiries about his or her concerns. It would give us an opportunity to explain, also, that
Cherry Lane Recreation is a privately run corporation with "Grandma" as sole owner. We do have
family members hired as is true for other family businesses. We expect each of our employees to
do a fair day's work for a fair day's wage.
Thank you again for passing this letter on to us.
Sincerely,
Management of Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc.
Mayor Tammy DeWeerd and City Council:
Gossip is not a reliable source of information. However, whether it is gossip ar fact or some of both, what is
happening at Cherry Lane Goif Course needs some investigation by the city.
Consider this:
• With the Pro/Tad suddenly leaving, taking a job in Colorado when all his family ties are here,_not
only seems strange, but what is going to happen with the running of the course? Who is in charge?
• It has been said that Tad nor Jennifer will be replaced here; in fact, it is rumored that Jennifer will
manage the course from Colorado. A golf course, a business, without a pro or manager on site -that
spells deception. Who is keeping. the records and the money?
• We aren't getting tags for our golf carts or membership cards -they say they can remember??? What
will keep anycarts and people from just jumping on the course at any point, pinking up people on
number 4, or 11 ??? Who is keeping the records and the money?
• There are about 400 members, paying roughly $1,000 in fees ($400,000), and possibly 300 carts,
paying an exorbitant fee of $400 each ($120,000). Then, there is the private pay that golf at least 10
months out of the 12. The course is full most of the time. Then there are the tournaments, etc. Who
is keeping the records and the money? Volunteers can't, shouldn't, do most of the work.
• What is spent on golf course maintenance and upgrading? There are no cart paths, just mud and
holes.. Most.. courses have cement paths. There are few ball washers, and seldom. full of good water.
The drinking containers are few and far between, and not filled regularly. The bunkers are hard as
brickbats. The course itself is in sad, sad shape. Go out and take a good look at it. Little is done to
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maintain rt; it is like a cow pasture rather than a golf course.
• Granted, there has been snow and rain, but the entrance from the parking lot is holes and mud. Most
any Hoarse would have laid rack by now, just as a courtesy, so you wouldn't have mud up to your
ankles in order to get to the clubhouse or back to your car.
• Too. many "€amily" seem to be trying to make too much o€ a living off the course.. Is it gossip or fact
that Grandma. writes herself a check when ever she wants, and she doesn't work there? Her son,
Rick, and family/extended family, are there alot - is the course employing all ofthem - or just
feeding all ofthem? How much cash is taken out of the till or not put in -where are the checks and
balances? Who is keeping the- records and the money; where is the accountability?
• Has the city done an audit? Someone from the city needs to ask these questions of what staff there is
and keep better track of the care of the course. All of the courses in the area are in better shape than
Cherry Lane - it really is embarrassing when guests. come from_lesser places that.have better courses.
• Maybe it is time for the pity to run the course, to hire a pro and manager, to-keep up the course in the
manner that "the money it takes in" would dictate.
Gossip, rumor, fact -what is happening is not right. To consider: a city employee, a council person ,
staff and club members (5/6) could form a board to meet once a month, review the finances, the
upkeep, plan for cart paths and upgrades at the tee boxes. People could be asked at random.and
changed every year or-two.
• As you can read, there is great concern for the finances of this course and what is not being done, as
well as the talk that the pro and manager will not bereplaced -more money for who??? This
appears to be mayhem.
• There are many people around the course, golfers and otherwise, considering their property -value by
living on or near anunder-maintained golf course, and the goings on. Thetalk of many is not good.
• Mayor, City Counsel -please take a look.
~1+~~E~VET~
FEB i 3 200
Cyity of Meridiais
Ctt~ Dlark ~Offie~