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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf Board Minutes - April 9, 2024 1 - (208) 359-3020 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Rexburg.org | Engage.Rexburg.org Golf Board Minutes – April 9, 2024 Council Members: Chairman Eva Wright Jon Johnson Paul Sorensen Karl Boehm Brian Parkinson Non-Voting Members: Matt Nielson – City Finance Officer Colin Erickson – City Council Member Brent Mendenhall – County Commissioner Spencer Rammell – Attorney Cameron Garn – Golf Pro Seth McFarland – Golf Ground Greg McInnes – City Parks Manager Justin Beard – City Engineer 4:30 P.M. Golf Board Meeting Roll Call of Board Members: Attending: Karl Boehm, Jon Johnson (via phone later in the meeting) Brian Parkinson, Paul Sorensen and Chairman Wright. Absent: 1. Review Prior Meeting Minutes and approve (Action Item): a. January 16, 2023 Board Member Boehm moved to approve the Golf Board Meeting Minutes for January 16, 2024; Board Member Parkinson seconded the motion; Board Chairman Wright asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Board Chairman Wright Board Member Boehm Board Member Sorensen Board Member Parkinson The motion carried. 2. City or County Input Issues a. Review Policy for Season Pass Discount for Qualified Retired City Employees passed by the City Council on March 6, 2024 Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the policy on Season Pass Discount for Qualified Retired City or County Employees. Discussion regarding the Councilmember’s recommendation for an employee to meet the PERSI Rule of 80 or 90 or the age requirement of a PERSI service retirement. Board Member Sorensen explained the County Commissioners would prefer the years of service whether that be 15 years or 20 years instead of the PERSI Retirement. He asked the County’s HR Director how many employees are at their 20 years of service. There are 22 county employees at their 20 years of service and only four employees that play golf. The city and county employees working for either entity already receive a 50% discount for the season pass. 2 Board Member Sorensen recommended to keep the process simple by making it a years of service instead of a PERSI Retirement and make it a full benefit where the employee does not have to pay for the season pass. Council Member C. Erickson said he has spoken with retiered employees and they said they would be happy with paying half of costs for the season pass. Discussion regarding the city and the county having a different policy for the season pass discount for retired employees. b. Review Policy Draft of the Season Pass Discount for Qualified Retired County Employees if available (Action Item) c. Other Items as brought forward Staff or Elected 3. Finance Report a. Budget Report Thru 3/31/24 Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Budget Report for the golf course. He said he decreased the Legacy Daily Fees; however, he increased the Legacy season passes. The rate was increased for the Legacy season pass. He said the biggest change for Teton Lakes was he increased the season pass projections up to $162,000 and decreased the college pass to zero because that pass was discontinued. The Inventory Profit decreased because of the changes that were made in January regarding incentive pay. Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the city/county contributions. The county has paid 100% of their debt on the nine holes so the only debt left is on the city’s side. He believes the city will pay that debt over a few years. The Fund Balance Carryover – Budget was about $416,000. 3 Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the expenses for the golf courses. He said he increased the total expenses for the Legacy Golf Course to about $229,900 because last year the expenses were about $200,000 and the year prior was about $189,000 the expenses continue to increase. The Part -Time Wages-Grounds Maintenance Fund continues to increase for Teton Lakes. Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Total Expenses for Teton Lakes. He said he projected the total expenses at Teton Lakes to decrease because there will be less capital improvement projects. 4 b. Capital Improvement Plan Review for Fiscal Year 2025 Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2025. Some of the capital expenses include rough mowers, fairway mowers, and there is a plan for new equipment. They are going to need to figure out how to fund a new irrigation system at Teton Lakes. Grounds Manager McFarland said he is not sure what would be cheaper, for the golf maintenance crew to complete the project or to have an irrigation company complete the project. When it comes to Teton Lakes, he asked do we want an irrigation system where he can operate from anywhere or keep the current one where he has to use 25 controllers to turn the water down or turn it up. 5 Discussion regarding how long the current irrigation system can continue to run. Grounds Man ager McFarland mentioned the different watering decisions he has to make on a daily basis. He said he is the only employee that can control the current irrigation system. Finance Officer Nielson asked if GIS employees can add GPS points on the irrigation sprinkler heads. Board Member Boehm asked about funding for the new irrigation system. Finance Officer Nielson said the funds will need to be saved, funding is not currently available. The funding would come for a subsidy from the city and county, the funds collected from the subsidy would be put into the 9-hole account. Discussion regarding remodeling the downstairs and upstairs bathrooms. 4. Golf Pro’s update of issues/concerns/problems/projects a. All Other Items as brought forward by Golf Pro Golf Pro Garn reported he is adding some small tournaments that would not affect the daily play at Teton Lakes. He said if the first two weeks of the golf season is an indication of the entire season, it is going to be a busy season. Last Wednesday, he had every tee time booked from 9am to 7pm. Board Member Sorensen asked if Golf Pro Garn has noticed a change in college aged patrons since deleting the college pass. Golf Pro Garn said the college students will complai n and after complaining they buy the season pass. He mentioned the Jefferson Hill Golf Course is redoing their sprinkler system, so they increased their prices. He believes Teton Lakes will see an increase of season pass purchases from the Jefferson Hill patrons because the Teton Lakes season pass is cheaper. Golf Pro Garn said he is also seeing more Idaho Falls patrons. Board Member Sorensen asked if there are patrons for Driggs coming to Teton Lakes. Golf Pro Garn replied he is currently seeing more patrons from Driggs, Jackson, and Island Park because those golf courses still have snow. Golf Pro Garn reported he is trying to get the golf course staff ready for the season. Board Member Boehm asked if there are several returning staff members. He is going to try to have two people on every shift so hopefully the wages stay within budget. 5. Golf Grounds Manager update of issues/concerns/problems/projects a. Range Lights at Tee Box (Greg and Seth to coordinate in-house when weather allows) b. Schedule of when crew can paint under the deck to preserve the primer on the mental c. Other items as brought forward by Golf Grounds Manager Grounds Manager McFarland reported he is currently working on the irrigation system at the Legacy starting from the ditch to the old pump station. They will also start the work on number two of the north tee box to double it in size. Board Member Bohem asked if there are club cleaners available for the patrons to clean their clubs. Golf Pro Garn replied yes there are buckets of cleaners he has set out by the range machine. Attorney Rammell asked for the cost to switch out the sand in the middle of the nine bunkers to white sand. Grounds Manager McFarland said the cost would be $4,000 per bunker to fill with white sand. There are two bunkers that they are going to take out on the right side of number 9 in the middle of the greens and the bunker on number 5. There are 33 bunkers total in the middle greens. Discussion regarding the labor time to fill the bunkers with white sand. Grounds Man ager McFarland said he does not have the equipment to take care of the fairways. The fairways are being lost because the ground is becoming compacted. Grounds Manager McFarland expressed his concerns with the maintenance of the golf course. There aren’t sufficient staff or equipment to keep the grounds maintained properly. He said a new irrigation system is a priority. Discussion regarding fertilizing and aerating the golf courses. There are challenges with hiring grounds maintenance staff. 6. Board Business/issues/problems/events a. Term expired for Eva Wright 4/2/24 (Action Item) i. Options Per By-Laws Provided: 1. Appoint New Board Member 2. Appoint to second full 5-year final term (Clarify with Legal) b. Appoint Board Chair and Secretary for next year (Action Item) c. Other Items as brought forward by Board Members 6 Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the terms for the Golf Board Members. Board Chairman Wright said she would be willing to serve five more years on the Golf Board. Board Member Boehm moved to approve the five-year appointment of Eva Wright to the Golf Board; Board Member Sorensen seconded the motion; Board Chairman Wright asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Board Chairman Wright Board Member Boehm Board Member Johnson Board Member Sorensen Board Member Parkinson The motion carried. Discussion regarding nominating a new Board Chairman and Secretary. Board Member Johnson was nominated as Board Chairman and Board Member Parkinson was nominated for secretary. Board Member Wright moved to approve the appointment of Board Member Johnson as the Golf Board Chairman; Board Member Boehm seconded the motion; Board Chairman Wright asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Board Chairman Wright Board Member Boehm Board Member Johnson Board Member Sorensen Board Member Parkinson The motion carried. Board Member Wright moved to approve the appointment of Board Member Parkinson as the Golf Board Secretary; Board Member Sorensen seconded the motion; Board Chairman Wright asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Board Chairman Wright Board Member Boehm Board Member Johnson Board Member Sorensen Board Member Parkinson The motion carried. 7. Determine Next Board Meeting Date/Time a. 5/14/24 at 4:30 pm -will be with Elected Officials for Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Meeting Board Member Wright will not be able to attend the 5/14/24 Golf Board Meeting. 8. Tabled Agenda Items to Consider: a. Drinking fountain installation and wrap-Spring 2024. b. Consider Landscaping items in the service shop area after completing main parking lot/clubhouse improvements. Finance Officer Nielson said city employee Jacob will reach out to Beehive regarding the drinking fountain wrap. 9. Executive Session (Statute 74-206)-Only held if necessary, and subsection authorizing the executive session must be stated-Generally held after regular meeting to discuss labor contract matters. (If necessary) (j) To consider labor contract matters authorized under section 67-2345A (74-206A) (1) (a) and (b), Idaho Code. Adjournment 5:56 P.M.