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Tuesday, March 15, 2005
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Potential golf course lease discussed LITTLE FALLS CITY COUNCIL Staff Writer LITTLE FALLS -- Several considerations on a potential lease for the Little Falls municipal golf course were discussed Monday at the Little Falls City Council's planning meeting.
The city council had authorized a listing agreement with Granite City Real Estate, Waite Park, to continue discussions with Traditions Golf. Traditions Golf has expressed interest in leasing the golf course for an extended time and making improvements.
If a lease agreement is made property taxes would be collected on the course.
Little Falls City Attorney Peter Vogel said the lease could contain restrictions that the property be used as a golf course and be open to the general public by payment of a green or membership fee. He also said the city could establish a monthly or annual rent.
Vogel said the potential lease agreement could include that the property would need to stay in its current condition. Vogel said the city could take videos or photographs of the property so the golf course could be reviewed in the future.
Another consideration Vogel suggested was that the city know that the people leasing the property are bona fides.
"We would need sufficient information on the principals and their businesses to know that they could perform long term," said Vogel. "We also need to know that the lessees are capable of managing a golf course."
The term of the lease also was a consideration, said Vogel. Tradition Golf earlier suggested a 99-year lease from the city and Vogel said he didn't know if the city would want that long of a lease
"We may want a 20-year lease with options to renew if there is no default," said Vogel. "One of the problems with an extremely long-term lease is that economic conditions change."
Other considerations included having the lease contain a security agreement and a stipulation that the lessee would have to borrow money against the lease to obtain financing to make improvements to the golf course, such as building a club house.
Vogel said other issues the city council may want to consider are what would happen to the current golf course employees and to their retirement benefits.
The city council agreed to form a committee to work with Vogel on the lease terms.
The golf course land was donated to the city in 1943 in part by the Musser family. The deed includes a restriction where the property could revert to the Musser heirs if a municipal course of at least nine holes is not maintained.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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