A 60 Degree Day At Countryside!

What a day - the golfers came out of the woodwork or wherever they hibernate in the Winter.

Lone Golfer in 20 Degree Weather

Only Golfer Playing at Countryside

Stopped by to visit the lonely Countryside Manager and found one car and one die hard golfer. He must have received new clubs for Christmas to be so anxious to get out on the course in 20 degree weather.

On another note - Brian Townsend, Assistant Manager for Community Development said the request for proposal (RFP) for 10 years of operation would go out the end of February or first of March. I asked since the city is maxed out debt wise how would the City pay for the desparately needed maintenance. Townsend wavered but indicated that they would look for someone responding to the RFP to offer to pay for the immediate maintenance needed for the golf course. I remarked that it would take longer then 10 years to recoup 1.2 million dollars. Townsend just shrugged.

Airport Land Lease Costs City More - MUCH MORE

The previous lease of Roanoke Airport Authority land used for Countryside Golf Club fairways cost the previous owners and now the City of Roanoke $4800 a year. This was attached to the 40 year lease that originated in 1967 when the golf course was built. It actually increased slightly from an original $1000.

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As part of the deal to swap land with the airport to widen the Runway Protection Zone for runway 6 the Airport Commission agreed to a new 10-year lease AT THE COST OF $18,000 a year - a 375% increase!

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According to Brian Townsend, Assistant City Manager, the land was assessed by a rental appraiser. This is more than the City gets from the Meadowbrook Golf lease of $17,500 a year. So not only are they paying on the $4 million debt and losing real estate tax they are now losing $500 a year in this poorly negotiated transaction.

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Even at that Granger MacFarlane, Roanoke City's representative on the Airport Commission voted "NO" on the 10-year lease. MacFarlane said "that he felt that the Commission would rue the day when the decision was made to go from a 5 year lease to a 10 year lease on the golf course property and that he thinks the Commission's negotiation position was given up." Taken from the ROA Commission minutes of November 11th.