HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 03-11 Citizens tell Maplewood city council that golf course is "dead duck" DISPATCH lJta'zens
-4--D.--9.tell
B Linda Owen i t city
Staff 99 7Scouncil
Writer �ed over the proposal that
the commission reported tabled furthere
The Maplewood Citycil said the course is a
was told by to the council last week the purchase, which was e "pushedp duck thathwill it could not reach a con- recommended byCitybe on the tax-
Councildents last week that the sensus. payers," and Dick Pear-
Hills golf course, Manager Michael Miller, son, 1959 White Bear Av-
Maplewhich the city has been MOTIONS to refer the until the March 20 meet-
advised to buy, is a purchase to the voters, to ing. enue, who termed the
"dead duck," a "dog" acquire the golf course SEVERAL residents golf course a "dog" and
and a"pig in a poke." and to deny the proposal in opposition a pig inth a Poke."
appeared
ON THE other hand, because a lack of facts to the purchase, includ- •
Another resident, Jack
Councilman Donald all failed on split votes, ing Tony Wicklander, Desai, 1855 E. Kenwood
Wiegert said his doubts a commission spokes 737 N. Oak Drive, who Drive, said the city could
a b o u t purchasing the man said. make a more informed
n i n e-h o I e, par-three In discussion that fol - -
-
course have been allayed lowed, Councilman John
by an interview with the Greavu said the proposal
owner of another nine- should be referred to the
hole golf course. voters, and Mayor Rob-
The city p l a n n i n g ert Bruton said the price
commission is so id- of the land is too high.
that g olf course is `dead duck' . ,
•
decision if it can deter- sent owners of Maple programs,he noted. "We aren't going to
mine the cost of alterna- Hills, are valid and the The golf course, how- give them anything ex
tives to the golf course purchase would be a ever, "has every chance tra," he said. "That's the
purchase, such as possi- "good buy." of being self-supporting bargain they asked for."
ble high-density residen- Besides, Wiegert said, and possibly making us Responding to Grea-
tial development on that the golf course would be a buck,"he said. vu's argument that the
property. "not in the nature of an If the course did not v o t e r s should decide,
WIEGERT said that he out-and-out business; support itself, Wiegert Wiegert said the voters
had talked with a private it's a recreational facili- said, the deficit would "could vote on every
golf course owner who ty." The city "doesn't be made up from the doggone thing we de-
told him figures present- make a dime" from its parks and recreation de- cide. That's why they
ed by Ban-Con,Inc.,pre- hockey and swimming partment budget. elected us."