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HomeMy WebLinkAboutChamber of Commerce Lease Correspondencet ~ ~ PHONE (208)88 \\ \\ 1 1 I I I I I I I 111 ~ ~~ /~% M ERI DIAN C hER OF COMMERCE IiAM ~\ 416 EAST FIRST ST. • P.O. BOX 557 ~~ \\\\ MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 ~//lllllllll\\\ January 29, 1980 Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. c/o Pir. Wally Lovan 900 Long Blvd. 4421 Lansing, Michigan 48910 Dear Wally, As you are well aware, the Meridian Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in making Cherry Lane Golf Course a reality for the people of Meridian. The concept of a municipal golf course was something many people in Peridian had dreamed about for many years, and the Chamber worked very hard to make this dream come true. Therefore, it is easy to understand why the Chamber has such a vital interest in the success of our municipal golf course, and why we have now taken an active part in trying to resolve the dispute between Leavitt-Nu Pacific, the City of P~eridian, and Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. by forming a golf course task force. The task force has spent time with Mr. Leavitt, Mayor Glaisyer, and yourself, and we have decided that the primary concern of all parties involved is to select an immediate course of action that benefits Cherry Lane Golf Course the most, and will allow the operator of the golf course to move forward in making preparations for the 1980 golf season. Therefore, we have concentrated our efforts on trying to bring .about an immediate solution to get the golf course going full-speed into the 1980 season, rather than trying to pinpoint faults for the problems that have occurred in the past and place blame on various individuals. Although we feel that these differences must be re- solved, and we plan on addressing these problems at some later date, we feel that the operation of the golf course, from this date forward, is the key to maintaining a first class golf course for the City of reridian. In the remainder of this letter, we will state some of the vital information we have obtained in this investigation, and state the recommendations of the Aeridian Chamber of Commerce, which we feel. arc equ.itablc, real..i_sti.c, and workable for all parties concerned. [Je met with Mr. Leavitt on January 22, 1980, and he made several. statements that we feel are very pertinent to resolving this dispute over operation of the golf course. First of all, he stated that he does not care ~~iho runs the golf course, whether it be Wally Lovan, Rich Terrell, or whoever. He does ` , ~ ~ PHONE (208) 88b \\\\\11II) IIIII11~~ /~ ~ M ERI DIAN CIiAMbER OF COMMERCE \~\ 416 EAST FIRST ST. • P.O. BOX 557 ~~~/ \\\\ MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 //IIIIIIII` Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. January 29, 1980 Page 2 not have any personal grudge or ill-feelings towards you, Wally. He said that if the City of Meridian decides that they want you to continue to lease the golf course, then he would have no objections, providing that ,you (or anyone else interested in leasing the golf course) meet the following requirements: 1. Provide the City of Meridian with a detailed and complete budget for the year 1980 and a pro forma budget for the year 1981 as well. This budget must show that an adequate cash flow is present in the operation of the golf course. Also the operator of the golf course must have available, whether it be in cash or in the ability to borrow, an $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 source of funds that is available throughout the year to mal',e necessary improvements to the golf course, and serve as a reserve account that is avail- . able in case of unforseen damages or repairs. This budget, should be presented to the City of Meridian, and if they are satisfied with its contents, then they will-present thi$ financial data to Mr. Leavitt. 2. Mr. Leavitt wants the lessee of the course to be bonded. 3. You must provide the. city with a contract that shows your agreement with a full-time PGA golf professional for the year 1980, and preferably for future years. 4. You must present to the city a copy of your contract with a full-time, experienced, qualified greenskeeper. You must also show that you will provide an adequate staff to operate all aspects of the golf course in a satisfactory manner. Mr. Leavitt repeatedly mentioned that your lease is with the city, and that all of ,the requested information should be provided to the city for their acceptance, and then they will make the recommendation to Leavitt- Nu Pacific. If satisfactory information is provided to Leavitt, then he wall accept the city's recommendation as to the lessee of the golf course, and not proceed with trying to take legal possession of the course.. II ~ ~ PHONE (208)888-2a ~~\\\\III Illll//~~ ~j, M ERI DIAN CIiAMbER OF COMMERCE \~\ 416 EAST FIRST ST. • P.O. BOX 557 ~~j//111111111\\\\\ MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. January 29, 1980 Page 3 We feel that most of these requirements are justified, and are in the best interest of Cherry Lane Golf Course. Following is a list of the recommenda- tions provided by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, which we feel are necessary to operate a successful and profitable golf course, and we feel these recommendations can be accepted by all parties involved. If you will provide the Chamber with all of the information that we are asking for, then we will approach the City of Meridian and Leavitt-Nu Pacific and present the information on your behalf, and try to resolve this dispute. Our recommendations are as follows: 1. We ask that a detailed working budget for the year 1980 be presented to the Chamber task force, showing that the operation will have an adequate cash flow, and that you have the capability to provide the adequate capital .needed to make the necessary improvements to the golf course. This budget should reveal that you are able to operate the golf course in a manner that will allow it to be maintained in the best condition possible for a second year golf course. We feel that it is not necessary to set up an escrow account with $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 in it as Mr. Leavitt has suggested, but we feel that a very specific and detailed budget must be provided so it can be easily seen that there is a sufficient margin to operate the course in a proper manner. This will be a very im- portant tool for the Chamber to have if we are to present a strong case to the City and Leavitt-Nu Pacific on your behalf . 2. We feel that the most important ingredient in obtaining a first-class golf course is to have an experienced, first rate greenskeeper. You have stated in previous discussions that you have made verbal agreements with Tom Funkliouser, a man with 10 years experience as grounds superintendant (Hillcrest C.C.), and that Tom will be your new greens- keeper. We recommend that you finalize your negotiations with P1r. Funkhouser, and present a written contract to the Chamber as final and conclusive proof that we will have a qualified greenskeeper for the upcoming year. We feel . \\\\~C ~~~///11111 III ~ i PHONE (208)888-2g~ 7 VIII/~~ ~ MERIDIAN C~iAMb ER OF COMM ~~ 4, ERCE \\\\\~ 6 EAST FIRST ST. • P.O. BOX 557 11111\ MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. January 29, 1980 Page 4 that this recommendation is the key element to solving the dispute. 3. We feel that a golf professional is a very important aspect of any successful golf course. Therefore, we recommend that you present to the Chamber a copy of the contract that you have with the golf pro you have selected to be the pro at Cherry Lane Golf Course. You have previously mentioned that you will probably have a part-time pro for a period of time until you feel the course can support a full time pro. We feel this concept is acceptable, providing that a part-time pro works at the course on a daily basis, and provides an adequate pro shop and is available for lessons on a daily basis. YJe feel that with your presence at 'the golf course as course manager, conducting activities at t}ie go]_f course (leagues, tournaments, etc.), that a part-time pro would suffice. We feel that a qualified, full-time greensl:eeper is much more important to the Cherry Lane course at this time rather than a full-time golf pro. 4. We would like you to give us a list of your proposed 1930 stafF, showing adequate personnel to operate the golf course and the clubhouse. Last year, problems with the staff aggrevated the situation at the ^ourse, and we feel that if you show us that you will have an adequate and professional staff, then this will alleviate another major concern of P4r. Leavitt. Wally, we feel that the conditions set forth by the Chamber of Commerce are very reasonable and are very basic in accordance with operating a successful golf course (any successful business). We want to settle any differences in this dispute before the matter ends up in the courts, and the golf course is damaged because of the inability of any of the parties to properly maintain the course during such a legal battle. If this matter ends up in the courtroom, then everyone comes out a loser, and we feel that if you will provide us with sufficient information as we have requested, F VIII III'// • ~ PHONE (208)888-2817 ~ji MERIDIAN C~ AMBER OF COMMERCE ~, \~\ 416 EAST FIRST ST. • P.O. BOX 557 f ~///III1IlIIII\\\\\ MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 Cherry Lane P.ecreation, Inc. January 29, 1980 Page 5 then we believe i~1r. Leavitt will accept the proposal that L~lally Lovan continue to lease and operate Cherry Lane Golf Course. Please provide us with the information as soon as possible so we can seek to resolve any differences that exist, and approach *1r. Leavitt and the City of Meridian with this information. We are looking forward to seeing you again. Sincerely, ~- ~C~t~r~i~ ~~/late Richard J. Terrell President, Peridian Chamber of Commerce cc: City of Meridian - c/o Mayor Glaisyer cc: Leavitt-Nu Pacific - c/o Don Leavitt 6 i r . ,. ~ ~ '; U iJ s; !s '1' $ .R Y C O~ S T D is R A 'i' T U i+1 - 1979-3U - '~:11., s~«Y, 3U .C: ,.: PROi~UG'1'S -' _ y ;;1Z~ PRVUUCT s ~ 1 lid 1JAG Iiigil Density Super Fair~ray 1'OT"AL LIST f::_x i' 13.50 ~ ~,4_s;,'.i),~ :~1, L.iij. U') Ll::iS 3~ QUA]liTIT7 ~ r ati~, 3.~7. 1!i I.L~S 3~b PHE-SEASON NE~r :~2,~8~.~?;! ,~~ ~tuantitp discount is available only vhen the total units as not„~ `i`JO°°' arf~ ordfared at one tiwe for delivery to one destination. -~',` _%'~ }r,-sea~,or~ miscount is offered for orders of 50 or more unitti wh .... r,i; ce~i for_ delivery BY DECEMBER 19, 1979 !~ 1`~ iJ~G i'LLi:~ I-C~~iNU . Y ~LZ I `- '~ 1 1 ~i B& G 1 ~ 1 1 ~"l BAG '~ IIM BAGS '> 22i~i :3AG .__ .; 1 1 "I bAt; ~' ~' I I ~; [~ A G ,~ 'iii L13. tiAG - 1979-t3 t) - PI~UD[ICTS P>30DiJCT iiigh ,Density Super Fairway 1)roaci Spectrum Fungicide (Winter) Starter Fertilizer I~ertiliiEr Plus Fungicid+~ (Minter) NLN iiU Fertilizer Plus Iron HD Greens Fertilizer Iron-S TOTAL ~~J: " . r „' LIST ~~` :~''~, 13.50 ~ 2.'~~?4.~~ 16. 5U 7. t; 4 . ~) p 1U 4. ;; ) 34. p 27~. ),) 1"1.50 35ii.,~~, 1~.su 35u.J~ ~ 17.00 IJ2.0(l LESS 4y~ pUANTITY LES`i 3yi PRE-S$ASOx ~3, 92h. 01) NET ~'3, h`) 1 . 1 ~'"` 4 ~ quantity discount is available only Then the total units as not N.1 ,t~ov-~ :jr_~ ordered. at one tine for delivery to one destination. _' ~. .j ; ~%rF,-season uiscount is offered ror orders of SD or n~ora ~,it _, "= i)~,iC:~~~1 LUr d~~lv~ry BY DECEMBEE 19, 1979 _,. ., I ~3.i~ ~ ~', , ~' , ~ ~~ ~~ i+i c; G C .. i~~`v~ l.i~Nii~) • is U D G E T A R Y C 0 N S I ll S R A T I O N S - 19'79-8U - '~ ~ ~ l , 1. 1 ~~ ~',~ ~T l~ PBODUCT;; -, 1 ~ 11"~ L`~~ r3 z:{.t~ llensity Super. F+iirw~y '''~ , v~;w .HU Fertilizer Plus Lron '1` U't' A L ~_:,~1~1 F;~G ~.TSl' ~) ~ 13.~U ~ ,r~, :~ 1 Z. 5 U .~ ~ ~ .., „ N ~-, ,,, • - 1979-80 - ,. .;Y i.ilN1, ~ is ''~~ IDI &N,- Jlllsi~0 `>CHi:DULc; TAGS PI3UliUl1'5 .r.iLl:ll 'kith ~~,C?1C Agri-sUL ;1,~~•m~:;r~tal Sulfur A ri t 11 1St: '~F_'C:k 4 High Ueasity super Fairvap hi;~y Zr,u week 4 NEW HD rertilizer Plus Iron ~:u.c~= 4th Week 4 NEp f3D F'ertilizr~r Plus Iron -'~~~iust 1st Week 4 NkW Hi) Fertilizer Plus Iron -~ •p t.r~mber 4th ti<~~k 4 NEW HD Fertilizer F1us Iron ~`:+:c~7e1 1:st ~7eek Agri-SUi. El~:m~atal Sulfur ...'l)'i ~t;ji'~'~y i1 ~a~~ply at I~! ) lbs per acre. ') r'-)~N1-Y :~t nor~al rate. '? ~.~t:. =r• 11i aft='r 3pPlYinq. 1 , y . ~~ ., ~, 'L' ~ ~ :, 44,J(.;U .;~,~ .,, x'i)t)~'JC°~ i~:i (~l (l) (2) (3) r~) (3) (2) (3) (`) (~) t 1) ~ ~ ~;~~,.._~Y i,.~l .~~_, ,~ ~ - 1979-~~ - -------- UL'i:i '~ ur. i l ~:iu w~=~K 4 yLW l-1J 1, .J rt.iii.~er PluU lrr~n --------- ( ~) ~" ~Y Isis vi:~p k 4 iiU i;r~:E:ns t''c~rtili•ti~r (~1 ~n:l w~~,~k l Iron-~ (1) (1) 4th ~lek 4 3iU Gr<~ens r'ertiliz,~r (~) ,; i~ rte- 1 i.± W~~~k Sulphdta OF Potash (~) l~l 3rr '~c~ek 4 ».EW Hll i'°rti3:izer Plns Iron (~) (1) sJu1-y IsL Task 4 Hll Greens F'i'rtilizer (~) 4tti W<~Fak 2 Iron-S (I) , (1) 'rir~r,;st 1 `,+~ "'<~v'K 4 HD Greens F:~rtilizer tom) (1) I) 1Pp1Y.:it_ 1iar~nal r ate ~l ~iat;~~r iii aft,~r aP PlYinq. 3) ~~p~,l~ at Z lbs ma terial per ~I,OJO sq gt. ~- ? i; 1 ~ ti 3 G • • ' ~ - 147-~3U - .. ' ~~ Lti. "' ` ., i. !)lA~v~ ~i1r~:iL) k'tlul~ 3 !;. ., ,rv i/~.. .. i. ~;:ii~;:)tJi~r, :1~G5 PIi0Uf7C1'; ,:l j!l:;t ~t;i ~iC.'~3K 4 l~1Aq IiJ c'f.rtl.lizcr .P1ua Iro~l (I} (%) .>~~~t.,~;uber ~ric~ pie ~k 4 iiD Grrens t'A~r. tilicer 4t1~ W~~~x # Ferti.liz%rr'ius Purr 1cile ~ 9~ (Wi t (~) n ~.r ) '`~-'o:;er ~r,.i. rre~k Epsi~m Salts (~) 3rd ~i:~ek 2 Iron_S (4) ~ ( ) (7) :v~~v<>;nh~r 1st. ~ie~;c GYpsure (2) 2n::i i~~ek 8 Broad SpectLUm ~"ungicide (Winter ~ (,) (.3) (b) I) ~+pP? y at normal rate =') ~1~ltr~r irl arr,,r apPlYinq. i) nPaly at ~iouLle rate. `:) ADP1y,~3t 1') +_bs ' material per 1,700 sg ft ) NPP1Y at l5 lbs . material per 1,p0i~ sq tt ') ~Pp1y with drop . spreader. ~.1 i? 1 ~ ii 3 G • :''~ r;I, l.~Y L.~i1E t; C 1979-8U - ~?i,;rlllI~11, IDAf30 ,, „ _'~==`~LULr B$GS PRODUCTS ~'~~,~.mner ~ci~i meek Broad S p.:.ctrum Fungicide (Hinter) ~)~~:~uary :3r1 ~:~{~k 8 Broad Spectrum Funqicid; (Winter) "' ~i~ruary 3rr1 week 4 Starter Fertilizer 4th ,~nek E.pso~a Salts '.''.,Lrc. n 1 _~t W ,..,1t ~ Fert11.1~.'::r ~ 1US .~'un 3r:; N ,~ gicide ~ (Minter) Sulphate: OF .potash +{~ w :::~x 4 5tart~r F'ertilizF~r `•.. GY~sum I) .+~N-°-y ,-~t. iouuie rate. -) ~ FOP ~y wa_ t.!~ u.rop spreader. i) r~~~ fro:u ,xi:~r ing stock. `% ~ ~~~')-Y at ~ior~nal rate ~) ,.~;it~_r. i:i :~~±.~c aPPlyinq. 1 t~Pi'lY a± I! "~u~1y at ~i; l,~s material per "~,;.):)v sq r"t. 7 lh ',~ .ip~Ly ;~t . s ~at,~rial },~~r ~~~~1u ~~ tt. ~; l~s materi :l a pc~r 1,+~ciu .may tt. 44,;IU0 .`.~Q ~ i (il (~) ( 3) (~1 (~l (µl y~ (f ), (1} ~~'~ (~) (~) t`~i (~'~ ," - 1~7~~-rs0 - . i:)IT.N, ~J.z U _>i.':i }:i1%iJLr LiAGS ~'t~OuUC'1'S ~' i~ci~ uttl ~i<~ek Agri-SUS ~l~~wental Sulfur Hr>ri ~ end week Urea 46-0-0 ~' ~j`'' Gti~ Wf~r:~K 50 Ilig~i Density Super Fairway ,7i1iy utr. '+iPe.k 60 High Density Super Fairway `~"';~~t embe r 1~t creek UO fiiyh Density Super F'airvay %<-*ot~ar Ist Teak Agri-5U7; Elemental Sulfur "~'~)~:)`i'NU~ES 1) apply at 10U lr~s per acre, ?) '~-.~t~r its ::lit:.r applying. `) `~ Ppl ~' ~t ~ ~ ln5 material per acre.. ;) apply at 1/'~ rate or 2 bags par acre. ~~ '1 ~ ~.' _~ f, Y' ;. 3U "~~:" i ( 1) (~) (-1) ('~1 (4) (4) (1) .. ,, x' ~6~iE G C `:~ 11 G 1 . ' ', 1 :,'1t~ I ~ , Li ti • i ti 1 :: 1 1 ~~, .'.1.s .. , t I ~. ~:~c, -~~ ~~. uii~~ ~~~~,rHS/cuLL:,;~, u4,{~~JJ SY F`i~ LIST ~;~`` ~J ~D 1 b • S ~ ~ r~ lJ ~i . li ~/ ~:) 13.~i~i I~~~~.'~„ ~ 3~. ~[) '7.. ., al 1 ~> . 5 J 1 _~ ,~ . ~, n~ 17.SU fti,,u;; ~ 17.U~ 1~ ~;~~ ~G._~ „ , .LESS 3yb PfiE-SEASON NET b 1, "2()'~ , 1 a '.~ ~ ','' ure-season discount is offered for orders of 50 or more units w~~ ;_s ;>1,ic~d for d~~liv~~rp BY DECEMBER 19, 1979 • L] !s II D G L T A R Y C O M S T D E R A T I O N S - 1979-8U - PROllUCT.i PNODU CT ~_':r~:~:i-i. Spectrum Fuu<Ii~:ide (winter) :~+.~i~_t4:r fertilizer r'~~r: t ilizer Plus Fuiryici:ie (winter ~;;~~ 1i) fertilizer t?lus Trop n!> ~r~~eYi.~ Fnrtilizc;r Lrolr-~ ,,~.1,~ E33~_, C R L ~~~ 7 1980 .cherry lane recreation, IIIC., 2040 interlachen way, meridian, Idaho 83642 .. pro member December 30, 1979 Dear Rich, treasure Congratulations on being the new Chamber President. It is a valleys very rewarding experience. Would like. to wish you and the Chamber quality. public the best of every thing for the .coming New Year, golf club It was nice talking with you today and learning of the Chamber's continued interest in the golf. course. I would be pleased to give you a report from Cherry. Lane Recreation, Inc. No organization has ask for a report from the golf course. private To review my back ground as pertains to golf courses, I was a and member of the Broadmore Country Club, ilampa, Idaho, for about four- group teen years, I served on the Board of=directors as Finance Director. Instruction Ialso served on several other committees including the greens committee, With that back ground, I was ask to be the chairr:an for Meridian driving Chamber's first golf course committee. At that time the Chamber felt range that it was to Meridian's interest that we have a public. golf course., It was the committees objective to get the City Council to accept the golf course, as a gift, from Leavitt-iduPacific Company. Cart rentals - After the City agreed +.o accept the golf Bourse in principle, I " was appointed by Mayor Storey and the Council to head a citizen's committee to set up the operation of the golf course. On this committee complete were three City Councilmen . Ilne of goltclubs, The new committee worked out for the City Council's approval, the clothes, following agreements shoes and accessories 1. To lease from Paul 1~'hite, White-Riedel Realtors, a house to use as a temporary club house. ~-Jhi.te-Riedel Realtors would also use the double .garage as their office. This lease was, to remain until the other nine holes of golf were put in and until.the City could see them-selves clear to build a permanent building. 2. :lire thru the PGA, nick Stanwood, PGA F'ro, to manage the golf course for the city. phone (208) 888-4080 3. To consider buying from Mr. Bob Baldock used equipment that he was using to work the golf course. Total cost - $8000.00- $9000.00, 4. Prepared a first years budget at $50,000.00. 5. Hire a greens keeper thru the Idaho Greens Kseper Assn. ' In the late summer of 1978 the 1~ property tax referendum was to be placed ',on the Idaho November ballot. The City discussed the leasing of the golf course because of what the referendums passage would to to the city tax structure. S formed a corporation and was the only one to come forth to work out a lease agreement with the City. The Corporation was composed of Rich Stanwood, PGA Pro anti hired as course manager, Bert l~.itchell and rr~yself. We incorporated with $35,000.00 cash. Bert Mitchell and I agreed to make up any cash flow that might be necessary. During my negotiation with the City, Paul '~lhite called and said he was ready to start the new club house for the City and his real estate office. Upon learning of my pending agreement with the Cit~r, he insisted that he had a verbal agreement to lease the club house to the City. I proposed and he eagerly accepted that my corporation would live up to that agreement.:. At the City Council meeting on October 2, 1978, the City Council agreed to accept the golf course. In turn, Leavitt-vuPacific agreed to take care of nine items as listed in the minutes of that meeting. On September 10,1979, Lremirided the City of Leavitt-',1~,1Pacific agreement. Upon taking over the operation of the golf course, we fo~ard that the sprinkler system could only be operated by hand and had never operated as an automated sprinkler system. Ray Conners came up from California and corrected part of the probler.i in October 1978 and again in June 1979. We blew out all 'of the sprinkler system as recommended by standard practices and as recommended by Ray Canners. There has been controversy as to its cause, Cherry Lane replaced over 5000 feet of sprinkler pipe with heavy duty schedule 80 PVC pipe rather than the lighter schedule 40 PVC pips used in the original installation. This was a $10,000,00 cost. We purchased on a lease payout agreement $35,000.00 worth of equipment for the golf course. Our equipment is very good for a 9 hole first year course, We purchased on a lease payout agreement $1k~,000.00 worth of golf carts. We have seven rental carts, The average 9 hole golf course in the Pacific Northwest has .less than three rental. carts per course:.: _ -z We installed fairway yardage signs, ball washers, trash receptacles and custom made green flags. All of this is better than the average golf course. We removed the pit run sand from the sand traps. It was-full of clay and rocks as well as sand, ?Je replaced it with a good grade of screened sand and this cost us an additional $3000.00 . We are under O.M, Scotts fertilizer program., L~Ie use what they advise us too use. We purchased $4300.00 worth of fertilizer during 1979. We have already received part of 1980's fertilizer program which will cost us $4800.00. The pro shop carried about $2},000.00 in merchandise, our cost. We carried some, of the top of the line in golf merchandise. - The Idaho Health Department would not allow us to use a grill• for. grilled cheese sandwiches or hamber~ers. We use the microwave to fix that type of sandwich. irTe served Coffee, tea, pop, beer and hot chocolate. We also have a refrigerated drinking fountain on the patio. We had a total of 5 to 8 people working for us for most of the season. We also had extra help during our pipe replacement period. In Sep+.einber while I was there, I tried to hire qualified help but .found treat the other golf courses were looking .for help also. At this time Bal3ock came out to do a little work on the course and hired away my kid that ,diet: my hand mowing. - Also .Cherry Lane matched the $5000,00 in trees and labor that Leavitt- NuPacific donated toward trees. The winter of 78-79 was extremely. hard on trees and a good number of them were winter killed, Hoffman nursery has just replaced part of the evergreens and will replace the decidious trees in the spring time. The insurance for 1980 has .already been paid.. Our expendutures for 1979, which includes our payments on our leases but ldoes not include the cost of ~.he leased equipment, amoi,~nted to $120,000,00. This was considerable more than our income. In addition, I have about $20,000.00 in C.D.'s tied up as a guarantee of payment for our leased golf course equipment. I do not consider that much money involved in its first years operation as operating on a shoe string as was reported in the news paper. The loss for the year 1980 is estimated at $25,000.00.. In review of some of our trials with +,he golf course this past year, Cherry lane was lead to believe on several occasions-that a number of corrections would be made to the golf course and to the sprinkler system. The last such agreement was made in July between Don Leavitt and ~Jita Loran. In August Ilearned of Mr. Leavitt's.displeasure with Cherry Lane, I called for Mr. Leavitt aL his Seattle office to clear up ary mis-ur-der.star-ding~. - 3 - .. Ms. Eggert said Mr. Leavitt was in San Francisco but that, she would speak for him. Ms. Eggert informed me that they were going to take the golf course -.away from Cherry Lane Recreation. In September I met with Mr. Leavitt. He also said that he was going to take the golf course away from me, His parting words. to me-were to walk away from the golf course before I lost any more money in 'the golf course. , From that point on. Nita and I were caught up in a discredit action that came mostly from Cherry Lane Village development. I do not know what most of the home owners think of me personally. I do know that I need their. support. I also know that Cherry Lane being a public golf course, owned by the city, can not give special privileges to the home owners on the golf course. The home owners have to abide to 'the rules of the golf course also, They-have to come to the club house, sign in, pay their fee if not a pass holder, and start on number 1 tee box. Some of the other paid fees have threatened to "wrap a club around their neck" for jumping in front of them for their golf play,. A green is a delicate ,piece of grass and they can not pratice pitching, putting or sand trap shots on them. One man was even praticing his iron shots from one of them, diviots and ail. Their children can not play in the fair ways, greens, or use the sand traps as sand boxes. A well hit golf ball could be lethal. Their animals should not use the-golf course as a sand box. They can not put up KEEP OF THE (,BASS signs if they are going to live on the golf course. Every one whe+,her we be City, land developer, contractor, home builder, home owner or golf course operator, has to homogenize their living habits to fit•the needs of the city, neighborhood and neighbors trat surround us. • Only that way can iae prosper. In November we were led to believe by JUB that thgrwere on the golf course to~make inprovements on at for us. We rented pipe for them,- used our tractor and, fuel to pump water and let them use our parts and parts shop. We also knew they were causing damage to the system due to the high pressurers built up in the system with out sprinkler heads being turned on with the pumps running. Due to the low water level and the dirt and debree built up around the intake his was also pumped into the system, We were dumbfounded b;;r the report that we heard came from their tirork. j-1e only hear. rumors of reports... - ~ - 4 ~ ~ ..Cherry Lane feels that the first difficult year is behind us. That the golf course its self came thru 1979 looking better than the average first year course. l4any players said it looked better than some of ,the older courses located in the area. We also feel that the pro shop is stocked better than the average shop with quality merchandise. That our furnishings are better than average thru out the club house. That our sandwich shop is handicapped by th Health Department but we offer quality sandwiches and drinks. We feel that our grounds keeping equipment is better than average for a first year 9 hole course and is more than adequate to do a good service on the course. We have a greens keeper for the coming season who has many years of experience and is fully qualified in all phases of grounds keepinga We are making arrangements for a part time pro, until=such time that the course can afford to support a full time, pro on its own. • My proposed budget for 1980 is $96,000.00. We will start upgrading and making the necessary corrections to the sprinkler system and will not depend on any one to do it for us. We should have done this sooner but we were convinced the corrections ~~ould be made for us. Because of the monies involved this will be a three year project. In the mean time we will .have additional hand watering to do to keep the course looking nice. '~ Last fall the High School held a very successful district cross country track meet at +.he golf course. We not only will be looking forward to this kind of activity but will look forward to offering our cooperation in the~.r golf program also. With my coming back in March, I want to organize not only the twi-lite league play for women and men but also the husband - wife, family type golf activities during the summer. We ran a Couples Chapman last SeptemUer while I was there. Every one was ready for another one. I still believe that Cherry Vane Golf Course has the makings of a quality public golf course. One that 1•ieridian can look to with pride. I can work with anyone and hopefully all parties concerned-can again work togeather in this endeador. I would be happy to try and answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to call me collect. cc: Joe Glaisyer Chamber Golf Course Committee Sincerely, ~ ,^ ~ ~;