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Golf-course proposal takes twists and turns
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 18, 2010)
Golf-course proposal takes twists and turns
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Munson Township's decision on whether to preserve 458 acres of real estate for future generations or let it continue as a prized golf course is down to two votes.
That decision, whether to accept a $5 million grant from the state to buy Fowler's Mill Golf Course, offers the township a chance to use a 7,600-square-foot clubhouse for its offices and 13 acres for multiple purposes such as ball fields. The remaining acreage would be restored to a natural state and used for passive recreation.
The number of votes deciding the issue changed last week when Trustee Todd Ray said he will not participate after consulting with the Ohio Ethics Commission and Geauga County Prosecutor's Office on the matter.
At the center of the issue is that Mr. Ray's wife's family has owned and operated the Legend Lake Golf Course, a private operation, in Munson Township since 1968. He said he and his wife, while stockholders, have had no participation in the golf-course operations.
Mr. Ray said last week that he decided to remove himself from the issue, despite opinions from the state agency and the local prosecutor's office that there would be no conflict of interest. They reasoned that public courses are not in direct competition with private ones.
Mr. Ray said he chose to step away from the issue, because the public always has a different take on a situation, especially those who are opposed to an idea. He said feared his good name and reputation would suffer because of that connection, regardless if there is justification for the criticism.
Trustee Andy Bushman said, with only two votes to decide the issue, both will be needed to approve the project. "A split vote kills it," he said.
Trustees gave the public its first opportunity to comment on the proposed purchase last week, and they got a taste of how avid golfers feel about the issue.
Pete Dye, who is considered one of the premier golf-course designers in the world, designed and built Fowler's Mill in 1971.
Mr. Bushman said he was anticipating a flood of golfers at the meeting as he was tipped to a campaign that was started by them shortly after the proposed purchase was announced. Golfers came from as far away as Bay Village to attend the meeting.
The campaign continued after the meeting as fliers were placed on vehicles parked there. The fliers invited opponents to call a number of people all the way up to the governor "to make them aware of your disapproval."
But even if the deal falls apart, the golfers have no guarantees that they will be enjoying the links forever.
State Sen. Timothy Grendell, R-Chester, who attended last week's public airing, said as much. He told the crowd that golf courses in Geauga County do not have an easy go of it and that there are no guarantees that there "won't be houses on the golf course sometime in our lifetime."
He pointed to Orchard Hills Golf Course in Chester Township, where the Geauga County Park District has taken ownership. Before the park district took ownership, golf-course owners had entertained an offer from Forest City developers who planned to build 64 homes there.
Mr. Grendell said people believe that the new owners pulled a "sneaky deal" to buy the course for $2.7 million and now could receive $5 million for it. "It was not because of any sneaky deal, but because our economy tanked," he said.
He said the former owners were bound by a bank that wanted only cash, and no lenders were willing to extend loans on golf courses during these economic times. He said that is what led the current owner, Fowler's Mill Group LLC, to purchase it at a bargain price.
Mr. Ray said the golf course had sold three times in seven years, each time for a lower price.
Munson Township residents pointed to wetlands and quicksand on the Fowler's Mill Golf Course, which they said would make the land unsuitable for development.
But Mr. Bushman said there are "quite a few buildable lots" on the property, possibly as many as 60 or 70. If that were to happen, he said, it is likely that children will be part of the new families that move in.
While the Chardon School District said it could lose $20,000 annually in tax revenue from the golf course, Mr. Bushman said, there is the chance of adding 140 children to the district. At a cost annually of $10,000 for educating each of those children, the $20,000 in lost taxes pales in comparison. he noted.
Munson resident Truman Parkinson, who attended last week's meeting, told golfers that they tend to believe that, if the deal before Township Trustees falls apart, the "golf course goes on forever. I have a hard time believing that."
He said those who truly want the golf course to continue operations simply have to buy it.
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