ASHLAND – The future of the struggling Brookside Golf Course spurred a bevy of resident questions recently and again during Tuesday’s Ashland City Council meeting.
A letter to the editor in the May 9 Ashland Times-Gazette raised a number of issues with city council coming up with funds to cover the golf course’s financial losses every year, and city residents echoed those concerns at Tuesday’s meeting.
“I think the biggest issue is taxpayers don’t understand how we can bail out the golf course but not have good streets,” city resident Farnam said.
Council members said they had received numerous phone calls and e-mails recently regarding the golf course and wanted people to know they are aware of the situation and are working to make the best choice for the city.
“The future of the golf course is unknown. We have to allow this season to play out and see if it can be profitable standing on its own. At which time we’ll address the matter further,” 1st Ward Councilman Steve Workman said.
“Those of you who have attended these meetings, you’ve heard on a number of occasions over the last six months, and even before that, back in July of last year, talk about the fact that we know that we cannot continue to subsidize the operations of the golf course at the level that we are,” At-Large Councilman Matt Miller said.
Miller told those in attendance that in the recent past, studies have been done and consultants have been hired to find ways to make the course more profitable.
“Many of those things have been implemented, and the golf course is running better than it probably ever has and it looks better than it ever has, but it’s still not enough,” Miller said.
“I do think it’s time for us to have a serious discussion as to whether or not we continue the operation of the city golf course,” Miller said.
Miller suggested having an appraisal done of the golf course, both of the land and also the operation, as a starting point.
Councilwoman Sandra Tunnell encouraged council to find other ways to fund the golf course, including private funds, similar to what is being done to improve the tennis courts at Brookside Park.
Tuesday night, council approved an ordinance to trade-in existing golf carts and to lease carts from Lake Erie Golf Cars of Warrensville Heights at a cost of up to $24,656 for 2017.
A clause in the agreement allows the city to terminate the lease if the club closes or is sold, but the city is responsible to make all lease payments through October 2018.
Given the uncertain future for the golf course, Miller said he voted for this ordinance because it allows the city to get out of the lease after just two seasons and is more cost effective than buying new carts.
“Road diet” proposal concerns residents
A discussion at a recent Ashland Planning Commission meeting prompted resident Phil Schafer to question council about their plans for Claremont Avenue.
“Let’s take care of businesses on that side of town. I don’t believe the road diet is the answer,” Schafer said.
The “road diet” plan would convert the four-lane street to one lane in each direction with a shared turn lane and bicycle lanes along each side. The road would be repaved and paid for through mostly grant money, allowing the city to divert up to $5 million in funds to other street paving projects.
City Engineer Shane Kremser told council the commission had decided Monday to ask council to authorize an engineering study of Claremont Avenue from Main Street to Baney Road. This study is necessary so the city can apply for grants.
“In order to make an educated decision, you need to quantify it with information. That’s Engineering 101. You get the facts, put it together and see if it can be done,” Kremser said.
Fishpaw said the bicycle lanes can serve as a buffer zone and make pedestrians walking on Claremont safer.
Reducing the road from four lanes to two will also make the road safer for drivers, eliminating merging accidents, Kremser said.
Council members assured the public that they have not made any decision about Claremont or even been presented with a proposal yet.
“No one has discussed this at the council level,” Tunnell said.
Property added to Ashland Business Park
In other business, council approved the purchase of two adjacent pieces of property on U.S. 250 on the north side of Ashland to add to the Industrial Park. The former Lone Pine Saloon at 1166 U.S. 250 is being purchased by the city for $210,000 from Dan and Barb Ltd. The property at 1170 U.S. 250 is owned by Jeremy and Staci Brinker and the purchase price is $82,500.
“This will give frontage to the industrial park and it will open that up for more business to take over that frontage and go back in to make better sites for more industry to move in there,” Fishpaw said.
Money to purchase the property will come from the city’s industrial park funds.
Easement approved at Baney-Claremont intersection
Council also approved an easement agreement with BMH Real Estate LLC to install a curb ramp and sidewalk on the southeast corner of the intersection of Baney Road and Claremont Avenue.
Kremser said the sidewalk and curb ramp are being installed as part of the traffic signal improvement project at the intersection. Currently, the intersection has a pedestrian crossing but no marked crosswalk.
Council President Ruth Detrow suggested council look into creating a property maintenance code. Detrow said the city engineer had tried to create a code a few years ago, but there was “no enthusiasm” from council to move forward with it.
“I know we don’t like to tell people how to manage their own private home, but the face that this home puts out to the public is important,” Detrow said.
