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Hildebrandt, Konrad
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TAB 6
Salt Lake Tribune, The (UT)
June 13, 2009
Cedar Hills officials debate putting golf clubhouse to a public vote
Author: Donald W. Meyers The Salt Lake Tribune
Cedar Hills » If the city is going to borrow up to $2 million for a clubhouse at the Cedar Hills
Golf Course, City Councilman Jim Perry believes the public should vote on it.
"If we can't make the case [to the voters], we shouldn't be doing it," Perry said.
But Mayor Mike McGee and City Manager Konrad Hildebrandt say this is one situation where
the council can bond money without a public vote.
"Some few people think anytime an issue comes up, it has to have a vote," McGee said, a move
that is not always required in a representative form of government.
He said the public can speak out through public hearings before their elected representatives.
The council will discuss the bonding ordinance at its Tuesday meeting to decide if that
interpretation is correct.
When the course was opened in 2003, the hope was that the city could cover its costs through
greens fees. Today, the course is "operationally" breaking even, Hildebrandt said. That means
taxpayers are still paying $367,000 a year in debt payments for the $6.25 million golf-course
bond.
The city's primary plan for quickly retiring the golf course debt -- selling building lots adjoining
the golf course -- is on hold because the housing market has collapsed and,Hildebrandt said, the
city won't offer the land for "fire-sale" prices.
That makes the clubhouse issue more important.
"We have an $8 million golf course that needs a clubhouse instead of a trailer," McGee said. In
addition to the trailer, the course has two tents, including one that is used for wedding receptions.
He said a clubhouse would make the golf course more competitive, which in turn means more
revenue.
Plus, Hildebrandt said, the clubhouse's location -- it would command stunning views of Utah
Valley and the nearby LDS Church's Mount Timpanogos Temple -- could bring in more wedding
receptions.
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