Group wants to revive golf course

By
MARY ANN ANDERSON
Once again, the years-long drama of what to do with the city-owned and now-shuttered golf course and civic center has taken yet another twist.
During last week’s combination June workshop and regular session of the Hazlehurst City Council, local residents John Turner, Joel Poe, Rod Rentz and Tyler Clifton presented a written proposal to lease the entire complex.
Turner was primary spokesman for the group, explaining to the council, “We want to throw out the last lifeline for the golf course. If we don’t do it, it’s over.”
During the course’s 80-year history, it was built first under private ownership as Ocmaha Country Club and later became Jeff Davis Country Club before being taken over by the City of Hazlehurst, and then Jeff Davis County, and finally back to the City of Hazlehurst. The complex has drained thousands of dollars from the city’s coffers, although at the same time the council attempted to get committees of local businesses and private citizens and governments such as the school board, recreation department, county commission and others to come together to lend a hand financially.
But those efforts failed dramatically, and last year the city made the difficult decision to shut down the complex and place it out for bids for sale or lease. After those efforts also failed, the aging landmark now sits empty, its greens and irrigation system practically in ruins.
Now the never-ending saga has yet another chapter to open with last week’s proposal by Turner and his colleagues.
“It’s a piece of history that I hate to see go,” Turner said. “If we do it correctly, it’s not going to cost the taxpayers one red cent.”
Turner explained that he and his colleagues can’t afford to pay the city rent and asked the council to allow them to lease the property for three years at no cost and have the option to buy it after one year. Other key items of the group’s proposal are that they will pay power bills for the deep well and civic center building, be responsible for reimbursing the city for all property and liability insurance, maintain equipment and bring the course back up to par, with the ultimate aim of refurbishing it to its glory days.
Turner estimates his group will spend at least $200,000 of their own money to restore the complex, with hopes to have it fully running by late fall or early winter.
“It’s how you run a business whether it’s successful or not,” he said. “People will come play golf if the greens are in order … it’s a recreation that’s offered from kids to old people. That’s the only sport you can do that with.”
Mayor John Ramay explained it can be legally leased because it’s currently non-operative, but pointed out if the city and group come to an agreement, that legally the complex still would have to be placed out for bids if it is to be sold.
The mayor also added that in addition to the current insurance costs for property and liability, the group would need renter’s insurance and would be responsible for the cost of all utilities.
“In other words, I would like to see zero cost to the city,” Ramay said emphatically.
Ward 4 Councilman Landon Chavis then offered a motion for the city to draft a lease to present to the group. After it passed unanimously, and with time being of the essence since summer is the growing season for grass, the city agreed to discuss the matter further in a called meeting set for Thursday, June 27.
In other action, the council ….
…. voted to deed the old City Hall building at the corner of South Williams and Latimer streets and the historic but now empty old jail to the Downtown Development Authority. The DDA plans to apply for grants to improve the decaying building and possibly make the jail an attraction. The council also floated an amendment to the motion to include the city’s iconic caboose to the DDA, but after discussing the legalities of such a move, the amended motion did not receive a second and died on the floor.
…. in order to move forward with the 2024-25 fiscal year budget, agreed to amend the 2023-24 budget that was 35 percent higher than anticipated.
…. voted to renew the annual Georgia Department of Corrections contract for 2024-25 with Bacon County Probation Detention Center work detail.
…. at the recommendation of Hofstadter and Associates, the city’s Macon-based engineering firm, accepted a bid of $99,254.40 from East Coast Asphalt of Douglas for street paving projects with financing provided by a Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant.
…. said yes to travel and expenses for the mayor and council members to attend Georgia Municipal Association’s annual convention in Savannah from June 20-25, as well as for Police Chief James Mock to attend Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police annual convention, also in Savannah, from July 21-24.
…. agreed to a water meter replacement proposal from RG3 Meter Company of Longview, Texas, with the meters coming in at $447,040 and installation at $174,828 by American Meter Install Group, with the total project cost of $621,868 financed over five years by Government Capital Corporation.
…. approved last month’s minutes, departmental reports, check register and water and sewer adjustments.
…. heard an update from Ramay and Charles Harrell, the city’s building inspector and code enforcement officer, that the state-funded Georgia Division of Driver Services facility is still on target to be built in Hazlehurst. Harrell noted its original completion date of 2023 was delayed in that the project had to be bid out a second time because of inflation.
…. listened as Oakley Perry, executive director of Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County Joint Development Authority, noted the county-sponsored and city-assisted Independence Day festivities are scheduled for Saturday, July 6, as July 4 falls on a weekday. Ward 1 Councilman Dywane Johnson also gave a short update on the city’s involvement with Juneteenth celebrations held last week.
…. after going into closed session to discuss personnel, returned to the regular session with a finding of no action taken.