Members of the Property Owners Association's recreation committee questioned Charlie Teal, POA Board chairman, about the Branchwood Golf Course at their monthly meeting Sept. 8.
Committee Chairman Ron Jones told Teal that he was disappointed with the action taken at the last board meeting.
The recreation committee wrote a "white paper," a document outlining its recommendations for the Branchwood Golf Course, but the board appointed a new committee to study the same issues.
The nine-hole golf course has been closed since it was flooded in August 2013, and it was underused before that. In 2009, the recreation committee submitted a white paper that recommended the course remain open but with limited maintenance and low fees. This time, the committee suggested the course be turned into a park.
"Should we have researched more?" committee member Beverly Cannady asked Teal. "Should we have found the costs?"
Teal agreed that the recommendation from the committee should have included dollar amounts for the changes it advocated. But because of the report, the board understands that Branchwood won't reopen as a golf course, he said.
Jones said he read that the POA doesn't have the money to make any changes at Branchwood, but Teal corrected him.
There is some money in the budget as a result of cost-saving measures, Teal told the committee. The board has already voted to stop overseeding the golf courses, and that money might be used on a new project.
In other business, Vern Olafson, lakes and parks superintendent, said he is planning a new archery range on land near the pistol range. The land, he said, belongs to Cooper Communities, but the company may choose to donate it for the range.
Clem Morgan, recreation manager, reported to the committee that his budget mostly will be directed to maintenance this year, especially if an assessment increase is not passed. If there is extra money in his budget, Branchwood would be a priority and then trails.
Sports on 09/17/2014