The Daily News

Following a recommendation from the Wahpeton Economic Development Commission (EDC), the city council voted 7-0 Monday to grant the Bois de Sioux Public Golf Course $25,000, intended to be distributed over a three-month time period.

The funds, to be drawn from Wahpeton's recreation set-aside fund, are to assist the golf course in meeting payroll, paying for monthly utility bills and other miscellaneous expenses.

Council members cited the golf course's economic impact on the city as reason to assist the entity for the second time in a one-year time period. In November 2008, the city approved a $108,000 subsidy in response to immediate challenges, such as long-term indebtedness, posed by golf board officials.

Advertisement

"This is a difficult thing. To infuse the golf course with more money, I think it's a controversial decision, but they seem to be getting on track despite huge obstacles of weather," said Alisa Mitskog, council member and EDC chair.

See Tuesday's Daily News for more of this article.

Comments

Wahpeton Resident wrote on Oct 31, 2009 7:09 PM:

" Larry...Have you ever looked at your property tax bill? "




Report Abuse

sb wrote on Oct 31, 2009 1:26 PM:

" i dont care about the golf course they should get nothen the money should go some where else "




Report Abuse

Larry wrote on Oct 30, 2009 10:20 PM:

" The zoo is privately funded and am pretty sure they receive no direct funding from the city. I believe the park and the zoo share some equipment and labor, which is a good idea. Our parks, zoo and carousel are a tremendous asset to the twin towns. "




Report Abuse

JDE wrote on Oct 30, 2009 8:26 AM:

" Look at the portion of money from property taxes that go into the Park, 7%. The park, pool, and zoo, operate in the red annually. This is a beautiful course that the city should be proud of. A portion of what goes to the park & zoo should go to the golf course as it does for every city course in Fargo. The zoo now has a million dollars to operate from now. The amount the golf course has received over the years is nothing compared to what other cities pay annually to maintain a public course. "




Report Abuse

Larry wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:21 PM:

" Pretty sure the city helps the park swimming pool every year as it operates in the red and I've never heard complaints about that. The pool and the course are an asset to town and we need to find a way to keep them open. I don't golf, but they may want to look at their prices. Might be a little high from what I hear. I think the casino course hurt them as they can practically give it away to get people in the door. The weather this year had to really hurt too. "




Report Abuse

WOW wrote on Oct 29, 2009 5:02 PM:

" Puzzled, I too just read the minutes from last years council meeting. This whole thing is starting to reak. Can someone bring light to the Recreation setaside fund??? This fund could build a dome with the funds that are flowing in and out of it. Looks like it is used as a mask to push whatever project through that is desired. How is this set aside funded that brings in all this money??? Would encourage all to read these minutes- found them eye opening to say the least!!! "




Report Abuse

puzzled wrote on Oct 29, 2009 2:10 PM:

" After reviewing the minutes from the 11-17-08 council meeting online I find some comments interesting back then compared to the full article in Tuesday's paper by the same people. There were 14 stipulations the course had to abide by - article mentioned more than ten but not all 14? Ms Huwe was pleased the ask was not for more money but last year there was certainty that $108,000 would solve their issues and no further bandaids necessary. "




Report Abuse

lookin for info wrote on Oct 29, 2009 11:21 AM:

" If you look at the city's website for information and agendas or even up to date comittee members you are out of luck unless you like last month's info.
There are assistants to these BUSY directors- (EDC,Finance) who could lend a hand to get the information out. EDC needs complete overhaul from top down or completely done away with and placed into the hands of competent officials. "




Report Abuse

wahp3 wrote on Oct 29, 2009 10:28 AM:

" I love fishing down the river, and i have seen many people come to town just to fish in the river..sooo why not spend the 133k they gave to golf course and clean the river and make it nice so we can get more people and the comunity can enjoy it also, and they won't have to pay to fish like they pay to golf. "




Report Abuse

wahp3 wrote on Oct 29, 2009 10:19 AM:

" (JR) your wrong, first of all 133K is not a drop in a bucket compaired to what the colf course brings for town and when the golf course does well do they give money to the comunity? Why should I help them when they are down but don't get crap back when they are doing good? Just because ur a member doesn't doesn't make u right. "




Report Abuse

grab your billfold wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:59 AM:

" Dittos to bail out golfers. I like bowling - got an extra 130 grand for my pleasure if the business runs into trouble? Or how bout any business that brings in people whether recreation or not? Take the $133,000 and add the proposed $370,000 for the Imation building clean up and you are talkin real money. Take a drive down dakota ave and with a little imagination I think you could find a home for half a million bucks. Doesn't matter which kitty the money is from, it is still taxpayers who are footin the bill. "




Report Abuse

Wahpeton Resident wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:41 AM:

" Wahp 5...Not the same....I'm not saying that this money couldn't be better spent somewhere else. What I'm saying is that until you have both sides of the story, how can you flat out say this is a bad idea. "




Report Abuse

wahp resident 2 wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:15 AM:

" What fire hydrant? I agree the EDC is a farce. The poor council does not even get the facts until minutes before a meeting and are expected to make a decision that quick.Maybe the EDC should go bye bye or pull their heads out and get info to the elected officials so they can do some research prior to having to vote. Where are funds coming from so what pocket are we talking about Sales tax or property tax. Maybe we should ask our elected officials or staff at city hall afterall we are there bosses so to speak "




Report Abuse

I bail out golfers with my taxes wrote on Oct 29, 2009 8:58 AM:

" Just show us the evidence, numbers and all, that support the "Tough" decisions resulting in the funneling of tax money into this entity. Simple as it sounds, it probably won't happen. Keep 'em in the dark, and take their money. Sounds like robbery, to me! Don't tell people to "grow up" unless you can walk in their shoes, wondering why it is so difficult to see improvements where it will benefit the majority, not the priviledged few. "




Report Abuse

JR wrote on Oct 29, 2009 8:14 AM:

" If you stop to think of the revenue the course brings to hotels, shopping, dining, and the list goes on. This money is a drop in the bucket compared to what they have received. The amount of time donated by people to keep this course going is phenomenal. Without it the town would be less of an attraction for people to come to. It is recreation, and that is where the funds are coming from. Grow up people. "




Report Abuse

Phil wrote on Oct 29, 2009 7:26 AM:

" As "Taxpayer" stated, if the golf course was such a money generator, why would they NEED these funds? In the old days of majority rule, this stuff wouldn't happen. The percentage of Wahpeton residents who frequent the golf course does surely not make up the majority of our city's population.

Regarding the votes on issues like this, I can guarantee you that someone making $100,000.00 per year WILL NOT vote the same as someone making $25,000.00 per year. "




Report Abuse

Wahp5 wrote on Oct 28, 2009 11:59 PM:

" (Wahpeton Resident) aren't you doing the same thing? "




Report Abuse

tough decisions wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:22 PM:

" The tough decisons probably would not be tough decisions if they were using their own money instead of others. Please correct me if I'm wrong but these funds ($133,000) are a gift not even a loan. If this is indeed the case, doesn't seem like too tough a decision to me. The EDC has it's place but it has gotten totally out of control and have lost sight where the money they are playing with comes from. "




Report Abuse

Taxpayer wrote on Oct 28, 2009 7:50 PM:

" I am not so sure that the economic impact that the golf has is that great. If it was that great wouldn't it be able to support itself? It would be nice to see the numbers that feed that statement. What is the golf course board doing to turn it around? It seems that somebody needs to take charge and make some changes. "




Report Abuse

oh Phil wrote on Oct 28, 2009 7:45 PM:

" Wahpeton's EDC is like a sunny day on the golf course OR a shiny new fire hydrant when compared to the BRECK SCHOOL BOARD!!! "




Report Abuse

Phil wrote on Oct 28, 2009 7:04 PM:

" So what is the "Economic Impact" our city gets from the golf course, I haven't seen any figures. This mindset of bailing out everybody is simply getting ridiculous. If you don't run your business well enough to REMAIN in business, then you should go out of business. It's simple common sense. What percentage of Wahpeton residents can even afford a yearly membership to the golf course? This is just another case of rich folks looking out for other rich folks. I'd like to see some "Average Joe" types on the EDC for a change. It would make a huge difference. "




Report Abuse

Wahpeton Resident wrote on Oct 28, 2009 4:38 PM:

" Anyone made any phone calls yet? If you have any info. besides what's posted in this news article I would be interested in hearing it. It amazes me how people
can make up their minds based on a short news article. I guess that's probably why you're sitting behind a computer saying things like "no brainer" and others are out making the tough decisions. "




Report Abuse

wahpresident wrote on Oct 28, 2009 3:04 PM:

" these people are putting their personal interest above the people who are paying the bill. This is ridiculous, pretty soon they will be taking vacations with our money and claim it was in the cities interest. "




Report Abuse

groan.... wrote on Oct 28, 2009 2:07 PM:

" Let's see... Fire Hydrant - Golf Course... Saving a Life - Making Par for the Course... Sounds like a "No Brainer" to me! What do you think, EDC??? "




Report Abuse

wahp3 wrote on Oct 28, 2009 12:29 PM:

" Wahp1 I would personally prevent the chance of somebody dying and loosing their home than a golf course "




Report Abuse

common sense wrote on Oct 28, 2009 12:21 PM:

" Between this fiasco and the Imation building,It certainly appears the EDC is in over their head. I think the recent track record will speak for itself. There also seems to be possible conflicts of interest with overlapping board members who are putting their own personal interests above the folks who are paying the bills. "




Report Abuse

Phil wrote on Oct 28, 2009 11:31 AM:

" Looks like the EDC is learning a few things from the Breck school board. :) "




Report Abuse

Tax payer wrote on Oct 28, 2009 7:01 AM:

" The wont put a hydrant in because they spent $400,000 on a new fire truck that doesn't even pump water. I agree with helping the golf course in its down time but thats 133,000 in a year. It's starting to get a little much. "




Report Abuse

lol they are playing you wrote on Oct 28, 2009 3:18 AM:

" Wal-mart probably brings more people to the area then everything else combined. So if they start failing will we bail them out also. "




Report Abuse

wahp2 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 9:23 PM:

" I think I'd go with the hydrant. After the 15K is spent the maintenance of the hydrant should stay under $130,000 lol and just might save a life or property. If the golf course brings in so much why can't it stand on its own?? I guess it depends on WHO benefits from the hydrant as to how much money is available doesn't it?? "




Report Abuse

wahp1 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 2:34 PM:

" it is not stupid, the golf course brings in more than the fire hydrant. "




Report Abuse

wahpresident wrote on Oct 27, 2009 1:23 PM:

" This is stupid we get told that it costs the city 12k to put in a fire hydrant and they won't put one in because they don't have the money but they give 25k to the golf course? "




Report Abuse