Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
STAFF WRITER
One way or another, the city of Clovis will pay a lot more green for its greens.
On the agenda for the 5:15 p.m. Clovis city commission meeting today is a one-year renewal with Real Golf, LLC, to operate the Colonial Park Golf Course and all included amenities.
The renewal includes a request a $160,000 annual subsidy from the city — a $100,000 increase from 2014-15. A projection by city officials notes the city taking over the course would be an even more expensive option.
By acclimation, the city’s parks, recreation and beautification committee recommended the renewal for Real Golf, operated by Charlie Maciel, during its Feb. 23 meeting.
The request includes:
- $39,600 for maintenance for movers and $15,600 for maintenance of new golf carts — part of $300,000 in equipment upgrades paid for by Real Golf.
- $31,000 for additional employees
- $10,000 to cover fuel increases
- The remaining $3,800 for various capital improvements and equipment upgrades
Other terms of the contract renewal —stipulating that Real Golf keeps 90 percent of membership and greens fees, all gift shop profits and driving range fees and 95 percent of golf cart rental fees — remain unchanged.
Maciel was the course manager at the city’s nine-hole municipal golf course before it was shuttered in 2011 and absorbed into Hillcrest Park for increased recreational opportunities. Maciel was the lone applicant the same year for a contract to operate the 18-hole Colonial Park course, which the city purchased to replace the municipal course.
The golf course has been a lightning rod for criticism, due to higher-than-expected costs to upgrade the water system and a restaurant at the course that has many standard expenses partially or fully subsidized by the city. The company keeps 90 percent of the first $100,000 in restaurant profits annually, 80 percent of profits between $100,001 and $299,999 and 75 percent of all additional profits, while the city provides water and garbage service and pays 25 percent of the power bill.
During the February meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Mark Dayhoff commended Maciel and his staff on course operation, and gave a projection that Real Golf’s request is approximately $150,000 less expensive annually than if the city took over operation of the course.
Dayhoff said Wednesday he based the projection on the course including salaries and benefits for a manager, greenskeeper and seven full-time employees.
City Manager Joe Thomas said there has been no discussion of subsidy amounts for a potential contract renewal in 2016.
Other items discussed during the city commissioner meeting:
- An election to fill two positions on the Clovis civil aviation board. The terms for Russ Backoff and Terry Moberly are expiring. Backoff has applied for another term, and the city has also received applications from Cliff Martin and Donald Sharer.
- Hearings for a pair of liquor license transfers. One is from Total Hospitality LLC on 2700 E. Mabry Dr. to Another Brink in the Wall, Inc. That liquor license would be used by the Raintree Thriftway, set to open later this year at 2300 Llano Estacado.
Total Hospitality would replace that license with the other transfer, this one coming from Blackbird Buvette of Albuquerque.
- Designation of Russell Muffley of Clovis as a temporary municipal judge.
The commission has previously designated Municipal Court Manager Vicki Kelley as temporary judge in cases where presiding Judge Jan Garrett is unable to act. Garrett has indicated to the city that neither she nor Kelley are advised to preside over cases involving relatives of court staff. Muffley, a former municipal judge, agreed to preside in cases where neither Garrett nor Kelley could preside.
- A request for a 5K to mark National Crime Victims Rights Week. The race will require a closure 8 a.m.-10 a.m. April 18 of the west lane of Main Street from the Curry County Courthouse to Green Acres Park.
- A $166,100 drainage extension on Llano Estacado Boulevard. The work would extend the city storm drain system east and eliminate the roadside channel, instead of placing a culvert under the driveway entrance to Raintree Thriftway.
