COMMITTEE TO STEER VALLEY VIEW GOLF COURSE
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
The Freeman City Council is expected to approve a new chapter to the ordinances established by the city of Freeman 30 years ago that creates a board of directors that would oversee the city-operated Valley View Golf Course.
The city council held first reading of Ordinance 2020-06 at its regular bi-monthly meeting Monday night, July 13 inside the council chambers at City Hall. Proposed by Mayor Michael Walter, the new chapter is designed to replicate the board of directors that oversees the Freeman Public Library; while the city of Freeman has the ultimate say and financial control over the operation, the board serves as a steering committee, meeting regularly and bringing recommendations to the city council.
“I’m not looking at 2020; I’m looking at 2021,” Walter told the council at its first meeting of July. “My hope is to get this going so, come August, they can familiarize themselves with the financials, how it’s working now and how it can work better — get them familiarized with what the expectations are.”
The seven-member committee would include three members of the golf course living within city limits, two other members of the golf course and one non-member living in city limits. It also includes a city council representative, as well as the mayor of Freeman.
“I’m hoping to have the second reading of the ordinance next meeting and I will present you with six board members,” Walter said. “I will explain to you why I put them on and I believe they will meet your approval.”
The members of the committee would serve three-year terms.
According to the proposed ordinance, “directors shall meet and organize by electing from the members a president. They shall make all necessary rules and regulations pertaining to the use and direction of the golf course and clubhouse within the budget of the city of Freeman.”
It also states that the city finance officer is treasurer of the course and that the golf course committee is required to submit an annual report “for the approval, information and guidance of said city council.”
Assuming the council approves the second reading of the ordinance at its next meeting Monday, July 27, the ordinance addition would go into effect Tuesday, Aug. 25.
In another golf course-related matter, the city of Freeman unanimously voted to authorize Walter to negotiate a price with a consultant to help steer Valley View in the right direction for the remainder of the year. Walter said his main concern is getting the greens in better shape to help make the course an attractive option for golfers from out of town.
Walter said the consultant, Dan Wagner, has vast experience in golf course maintenance and understanding and has agreed to work with Valley View for the remainder of 2020 for $6,000.
“I want to get this place in shape so when we hand it over to the board of directors, we’re not handing them a mess,” the mayor said. “We need to give this a legitimate shot and this is a legitimate shot.”
Walter says, between a board of directors similar to the one that oversees Freeman Public Library and the consultation work being done, Valley View can see improvements in both quality and efficiencies.
“Our library is a crown jewel,” he said. “I want the golf course to be the same.”
For more on the July 13 meeting, see page 2B.
