Following an executive session Monday evening, the El Dorado City Commission approved moving $794,876 to a fund set up for Prairie Trails Golf and Country Club Monday evening.
Because the budget was set up last spring and approved before the purchase of Prairie Trails, funds to operate it were not included.
"This is staff's best estimate on revenues and expenses last year and some known things we need this year," said Herb Llewellyn, city manager. "When we hire a management company, there may be changes yet."
Although they added the money now to be spent, that money will be made up from funds from Prairie Trails.
After holding a public hearing, during which no one spoke, the commission approved the amendment to the operating budget 5-0.
As a second part of that agenda item, the commission also heard a proposal for a management company to run Prairie Trails.
"After the city commission instructed staff to try to purchase Prairie Trails, we immediately put out a request for proposals from golf management companies throughout the U.S. to come and examine our course," Llewellyn said.
The city received four proposals. After reviewing them, staff interviewed two of the companies.
"Both were very qualified," Llewellyn said.
Some of that information and trade secrets about the companies was shared with the city commission during the executive session prior to this agenda item.
"In the end, staff felt like there was more opportunity with Kemper (Sports) because of their development/management of Sand Creek Station in Newton," Llewellyn said. "In their proposal they talked about having some reciprocal golfing (with Newton)."
If given the OK, that would offer lower green fees for members at both courses when visiting the other.
"Given all the phone calls we made and all the people we talked to, we just think KemperSports is a little better fit for us," he said.
The other candidate interviewd was Billy Casper Golf.
Llewellyn was asking the commission to let staff come up with a contract that is suitable for both parties and to move forward.
Mayor Tom McKibban complimented the staff on their hard work on this issue.
"I know they spent countless hours," he said.
"This was a very critical issue for us and we just felt we needed to do a good job on it."
Commissioner Nick Badwey made a motion to negotiate a contract with Kemper Sports to manage the municipal golf course and restaurant. It was approved 5-0.
In other business, the commission:
• appointed Larry Gastin, Jason Burke, Ryan Murry, Tony Grunder and Van Pooler to the Sales Tax Advisory Board for one year.
