Golf Course Air.....GONE TO THEIR HEADS????

Remember I mentioned some troubling things that I had discovered in the minutes of the Golf Advisory Board?  The following items are directly from the minutes...here goes.....

First in Dec. 2001....a letter was sent to service clubs on donations toward the proposed Golf Course improvements, with the city giving $25,000.00 from the Dewey Trust Fund.  (remember city committees cannot fundraise or solicit donations according to the State Auditors office)....we will end the year approximately $25,000.00 in the red!!

January 2002...Letter to members asking for donations for sprinkler system(so far they had already received 7,500.00)

February 2007...Bruce Sargent introduces idea of developing a 501c3 non profit status...City Council want them to proceed with this, and the council will be reviewing the status of the organization. 

March 2008 Golf Extravaganza mentioned and income from Little Falls Lions meetings average weekly meetings $250.00 (2,000.00 cash collected to date) 501c3 donations through FAB and gaming events through gaming license of Little Falls Lions Club. 

May 2011 City Finance Officer Lori Kasella present at meeting. Randy Pankonen(manager of golf course) and Lori Kasella reported on recent meetings with the Small Business Administration in Brainerd. We have had two meetings with Julie Anderholm at Brainerd Community College.  She has reviewed the golf course operations and financial information. Suggested we look at menu changes and pricing.  Also looked at advertising costs and set goals for cost of goods sold for liquor and food.  Randy has already addressed the menu items.  wE will continue to work on this project.  Staff proposed to meet with Ms. Anderholm in July.

Oct. 2011 (Mayor VanRisseghem and Jeremy Hanfler present(Jeremy is vice president)....AED need to have a donation box in the clubhouse for money to go towards an AED(I believe may be a defibrillator)  Finances-The board also reviewed the yearly comparisons from 2009, 2010 and 2011.  It was pointed out that as of the end of September, the Golf Course (as a whole), is behind 2010 for total revenues by almost $15,000.00, yet we are ahead in net profit because total expenditures are less than 2010 by approximately $25,750.00.

The last meeting they held was on November, 15, 2012.....there was no quorum...agendas were sent to members....Those present Tom Miller, Men's league representative, Jeremy Hanfler, Randy Pankonen, and Jerry Lochner(co-city administrator).  The group reviewed having members who are available for meeting and potential members were discussed and they will be given to Mayor Van
Risseghem to contact.  The next board meeting will be determined once a full board has been appointed by the City Council. 

How come the mayor did not seek out or evidently locate any volunteers for the Golf Advisory Board since she was present at the last meeting in 2012???   Why didn't she recruit volunteers for this board? 


Now here is where I have a problem with how this is all working.  For years and years....since the very first year this advisory board was established and made an ordinance, by the City Council this board NEVER EVER FOLLOWED THE RULES THAT REQUIRE MONTHLY MEETINGS.  PLUS THE GOLF COURSE OPERATED IN THE RED SOME YEARS.  WELL NO WONDER...THERE WAS NO OVERSIGHT. 

Advisory board was established in 1989 and ....

AS EARLY AS MARCH 6, 1990 UNDER COMMUNICATIONS CHARITABLE GAMBLILNG ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED. 

March 12, 1991  Sue Paulson attended the meeting to comment on the proposed long range goals committee that was advertised in the newsletter.  Sue would like to see the committee advertised for again in the upcoming newsletter.  she also feels that if volunteers do not come forward that people should be nominated by their respective leagues or called and asked to serve.  Doug (Villette) expressed his concern at having this committee formed in such a manner, as it was presented to the City Council as a committee that would be formed to give people who presently do not or cannot be represented by the board a chance to express their opinions.

Over the years the publicly owned golf course has provided CHEAP GOLF FOR THE RICH AND PROVIDED NO REAL PUBLIC BENEFIT.  IF THAT WERE TRUE, DISADVANTAGED AND LOW INCOME CITIZENS WOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GOLF FOR FREE.  NOW THAT WOULD BE A REAL PUBLIC BENEFIT. 

IN MY PUBLIC FORUM COMMENT ON JULY 21, 2014 I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IMMEDIATE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE POOR OF OUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT IS REQUIRED ACCORDING TO THE STATE AUDITORS OFFICE, ANYTIME A PUBLIC EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IS SPENT BY GOVERNMENT. 

These are your taxpayer dollars being spent to subsidize the well heeled elitists in Little Falls.  The "poofy party" as I call them.  

DEMAND BETTER GOVERNANCE FROM YOUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL....NOW!!!