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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2016-11-16, Page 1718 News Record • Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Goderich investigates taking over struggling Maitland golf club Darryl Coote Postmedia Network Deputy mayor Jim Donnelly, the sole vote against creating a committee of council, said Goderich should not take over ownership of the golf club as the town already has too much money invested in recreation. 11111PiMlP Minn. ROYAL LEPA#GE Heartland Realty AlImIrUiilmir IMAM I m Helping you is what we do.TM OFFICE 519-482-3400 1 Albert St., Clinton i To view all our listings go to: www.rlpheartland.ca Fred Lobb** Rick Lobb*** Richard Lobb Sr.* Sherry McLaughlin* Cell: 519-955-0012 Cell: 519-525-1174 Cell: 519-955-0163 Cell: 519-301-2879 Olikr NEW PRICE 138 Victoria St., Clinton $164,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#712473 HERITAGE B&B 71 Kirk St., Clinton S589,000 Call Fred or Rick MLS#258133 DOWNTOWN BUILDING 408 Queen St., Blyth $299,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#162264 COMMERCIAL SPACE 413 Queen St., Blyth $269,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#869629 Broker of Record*** 40486 Summerhill Rd., Central Huron $349,900 Call Fred or Rick MLS#194993 UPDATED 3 BR 125 John St., Auburn $219,000 Call Sherry MLS#425559 3/4 ACRE, 3 BR HOME 30 Mill St., Dublin $169,900 Call Sherry MLS#710894 Ir 1.5 ACRE PROPERTY 33880 Brindley Beach Rd., A.C.W. $429,000 Call Sherry MLS#843435 • 01,• "jilt --til ,: •:dirt FOR SALE OR LEASE 135 Irwin St., Clinton $499,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#997214 69 ACRE MIXED BUSH 78252 Parr Line, Central Huron $117,500 Call Rick or Fred MLS#851059 BUILDING LOT Lot 9 Ransford St., Clinton $59,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#137368 Broker/Owner** Sales Representative * Darryl Coote Postmedia Network Goderich council will inves- tigate whether the town should take over ownership of the struggling Maitland Golf and Country Club. Over the past 12 years the club has been suffering from a dwindling membership, and while the grounds is worth $1.2 million, the company has no cash to pay off its $300,000 debt. With hat in hand, Grant Dawson, the head of the Mait- land Country Golf Club future options committee, told coun- cil Nov. 7 that if nothing changes, the facility will fall into receivership by the spring and will be sold to the highest bidder. He said the facility has been pairing back on all but necessi- ties and year on year they break even, but capital projects to fix and maintain the grounds has forced the com- pany to fall into the red. With four golf courses within a 20 -minute drive of Goderich, the country club faces too much competition for mem- bers, he said. The ideal option, Dawson told council, is for the city to take over the club and run it as a municipal golf course. They have also approached Golf North to run the course, but to no response, he said. "We have several months left before we go into receivership. If that happens the Maitland will collapse, there will be an immediate sale to the highest bidder, the debt will be paid off of the organization and any remaining funds available after that will be returned to the fed- eral non-profit organization, which would then be redistrib- uted to local organizations doing work in the nature to the Maitland," Dawson said. Councillor Myles Murdock then suggested that council form an investigative commit- tee to see what the town can do to save the facilities, as it is a "significant property" for the community. However, haunted by the last investigation by council that the Ontario ombudsman found to have violated the municipal act, CAO Larry McCabe reminded council that if they form a com- mittee of council that they need to adhere to all municipal rules. He then said first they should first speak to the Mait- land Valley Conservation Authority and see what envi- ronmental restrictions are in place on the property. Both councillor Michele Hansen and councillor Matt Hoy said they support creating a committee of council. "I would definitely support the motion," said Hoy. "And defiantly [there] should be a committee of council and it should be a public meeting because we have such a vested interest in that property." Not everyone agreed. Dep- uty mayor Jim Donnelly took a staunch stance against the investigation, saying the prop- erty is a "guaranteed looser of money." He said with the minimum of $3 million earmarked for the revitalization of the agricultural park plus the expected increase in the town's portion for the local YMCA they are already spending a lot on recreation. He added that the golf club enjoys the benefit of volunteer labour, which would end under the city's helm. So the costs to run the grounds would increase compared to the club's current books. Also, he said he suspects the facility needs an assortment of upgrades. Council should stay out of it, he said. "If the golf club has deci- sions to make it is their respon- sibility and they should make their decisions and we ought not to interferer," he said. Councillor Luke Elliot said he shares Donnelly's concerns, but the land is an "indisputa- ble" asset. "We owe it to our citizens to explore and see the feasibility of any new revenue streams, not that I'm saying we should buy and operate it. But we'd be foolish if not at least explore the option and take a look at it," he said. Hoy agreed and said it would be "irresponsible" for the town to let the golf club fend for its self, especially since the town set the precedent of owning property when it bought the Victoria Street Public School back in 2013. Donnelly asked for a recorded vote with he being the only no against creating a committee of council. The vote was 6-1 in favour. The three councillors to sit on the committee of council will be Elliot, Hoy and Trevor Bazinet. ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm Clinton News Record www.clintonnewsrecord.com 53 Albert St. S, Clinton PH: 519-482-3443 ]POST EOIA OFFICE HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 9am - 5pm CLOSED TUESDAYS