Country club management contract in the works

During its regular meeting Monday, the Jacksboro City Council discussed a number of possible budget amendments.

City Manager Mike Smith reported that the Jacksboro Country Club is in need of some new equipment, first and foremost, a fairway mower. Smith said he got a quote for a new John Deere fairway mower for $26,000. Smith wanted to know if the council wanted to proceed with trying to get a mower for the country club despite the city currently in the process of seeking an outside management firm to take over operations of the club.

The city recently requested proposals to contract management services of the country club and received one proposal from Triple Duh, LLC. The outfit is made up of Mike and Sandra Kidd of Jacksboro and Kevin Brunson of Weatherford. The group is currently managing the club on an interim basis.

Smith said it could be April before they take over, but the club will need a mower fairly quickly.

He recommended the council members think about the purchase of a new mower and let him know if they think one should be purchased so he could prepare a budget amendment for the next council meeting.

Councilman Joe Mitchell asked if the management team would be responsible for supplying equipment. Smith said it is negotiable.

“If we’re going to keep up the golf course, it’s just a necessary evil it sounds like,” said Councilman Gary Oliver.

Following the mower discussion, the council considered the proposal regarding country club management.

“It’s more of a conceptual proposal rather than a proposal of dollars,” Smith said. “Their plan with this proposal is essentially to develop a long-term partnership with the city so they could manage this for more than just a year or two. They’re looking ahead at options to make some significant changes to the country club and to the course itself, some with city money and some with investing their own money with the idea that they would get some financial recoupment at some point down the road, not necessarily immediately.”

Smith told the council if they are willing to accept the conceptual plan, he would then sit down with Triple Duh and create a contract.

Oliver said he had questions for the city attorney and the council entered into a closed session for 15 minutes.

Upon the council’s return, Mitchell made a motion to accept the proposal and give Smith the authority to negotiate a contract. The members voted unanimously in favor of the motion with Jason Nash absent.

To read the complete article, see the Jan. 27 edition of the Herald-Gazette.