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Clanton council purchases part of golf course, another lot
By Stephen Dawkins Published 6:55pm Thursday, March 10, 2011The Clanton City Council voted to purchase two pieces of land at a meeting Thursday—though one of the purchases was strongly opposed by one councilmember.
The council decided to purchase 23 acres of land from the Clanton Country Club for $260,000. The land is basically what the golf course, which is facing financial woes, uses for a driving range, according to discussion at the meeting, which was moved up from March 14 because of spring break.
Though the city would own the land, councilmembers indicated the country club would continue to operate the driving range.
In voicing opposition to the purchase, councilman Jeff Price said he couldn’t justify spending that amount of money when residents have problems like potholes and streetlights that are out.
Price said the purchase will put the city in a predicament because it won’t be able to do anything with the land in the future without hurting the golf course.
“I don’t want the golf course to fail, but I don’t see how this benefits the city in any way,” Price said.
Price also disagreed with the principle of giving more money to a group—the course is owned by 26 stakeholders—that has found itself in debt.
Mayor Billy Joe Driver and councilmembers Greg DeJarnett, Bobby Easterling and Mary Mell Smith all voted for the purchase.
Price voted against it, and councilmember Bobby Cook abstained because he is a stakeholder in the course, he said.
Councilman Greg DeJarnett voiced concerns over the future of the city’s money.
“If it’s not (well managed), and you are back in here in a year or two years and I’m still on this council, I have a good, good idea for which way my mindset is going to be,” DeJarnett said to course officials attending the meeting at Clanton City Hall.
The council also voted, unanimously, to purchase about two acres of land off Second Avenue for $40,000.
The land could be used to build a recreation center similar to the one the city owns off Lay Dam Road.
In other business, the council:
•Voted to participate in the state sales tax holiday in August.
•Hired Evan Moates and Caleb Driver as part-time employees to help at City Park during the summer.
•Hired Darrell Bone, Derrick Bone, Tara Mayfield, Jessica Mims and Charlie Sanders as part-time police officers.
•Endorsed the Public Safety Technology Fund, a local initiative that, upon approval by the Alabama Legislature, would add $10 onto the cost of court fees for citations and arrests in the county for local police departments’ technology funds.
•Heard complaints about road conditions, the lack of streetlights, an ongoing sidewalk project and other issues from four Lomax residents who live on Old Henry Road, Reed Street and Carver Avenue.
Kudos to Jeff Price! He seems to be the only one who has any ETHICAL fortitude to say NO to political favors in Chilton County.
I find it rather interesting that the tax payers money is used to bail out this particular business and yet the tax payers have absolutely no say in the matter! I smell a rat!
Can a government entity own part interest in a private club?
I don’t know the answer.
I did a google search for the Clanton Country Club….and here is just 1 of the hits….LMAO…take notice of who it says the owner is….Politics at it’s finest!!
http://www.golfnow.com/course-directory/alabama-golf-courses/clanton-golf-courses/clanton-country-club
Are you kidding me, while waisting the tax payers money on bailing out a golf course that has been mismanaged the city continues to alinate those that could bring revinue to the city. Why is the newly formed football team playing in Maplesville, because the city parks will not work with them, why doesn’t the city parks host tournaments, because the city parks over price the use of the fields. Why not work with these organizations and bring this revenue to the city instead of sending it else where? I know that when Jemison hosts tournaments involving more than a hundred players which bring an average of 3 additional people per player the city’s revunue increases on taxes and local business’s ecperience an increase also. Wake up Clanton and reach out to the opportunities that surround you, bring the football team and travel sports tournaments to Clanton.
I’m another person wanting to know just how this is going to benefit taxpayers. The city council is making a huge mistake with this decision. A bailout for 26 private owners for a country club? You have got to be kidding me!!
City councilors now would be the time to comment to your constituants explaining who first suggested this ridiculous purchase and what benefit the purchase will be to the taxpayers. Now is the time to table this purchase if a closing has not occured.
The other side of this coin….Election day will be the time for your constituants to let you know how much we wanted these answers and responsible spending of our money.
Very Well Put, It is time to stand up for what is right or sit down after election day. Do not let small town politics make your decision. If I asked the city counsel to purchase part of my land because I need money, I am definite the answer would be No…
This Golf Course is in trouble due to VERY poor management. I actually paid to be a member one year, I live in Clanton and wanted to support my Neighbors. During this time my grandchildren moved in and besides loving them, I provided for them just as they where my children. When I approached the golf course management on two different occasions asking them if my membership included my grandchildren, since it did include school age children living with you, I was told No… My argument was If children count why not grandchildren that you have custody of? We to no avail the management denied my request. I also never paid to be a member again and will travel 50 miles if I have to to play golf and spend my tax dollars anywhere else. I have also made it a point to let all my golfing friends know of how this establishment refused to let my grandchildren be part of my immediate family. So this financial situation is brought on by the poor business practices of this establishment. I am a taxpayer here in Clanton and strongly Denounce the use of My Money being spent to bail out this so called Golf course. My Grandchildren are my dependants and in my mind my immediate family, This course should be allowed to fail, no matter to “Who They Know” on the city council
I have to agree with the others here. I live in Clanton and would like to know how this is benefiting the tax payers. How is this going to help the city? Has there been a study on how much sales tax the course brings in? Granted I’m not a golfer, but I don’t see the course as being a “destination” place like Ross Bridge or the other RTJ courses that bring in people from out of town.
Is there a plan to pay back the city later down the road?
How many council members are members at the club?
Thanks to Jeff Price for wanting more answers.
As a property owner in the City of Clanton, I’m glad to know that the city has enough money to bail-out property owners in the time of financial difficulty. I commend Jeff Price for the stand he took. I’m afraid the city is setting a precedent that will cause problems for them in the long run. The Advertiser stated that Councilman Bobby Cook was one of the stakeholders of the Clanton Country Club. I would like to know who the other twenty-five are. It seems they should be the ones to bail out the golf course, not the city and taxpayers. At $260,000 for the property, that means that each stakeholder will receive a $10,000 stimulus at taxpayers’ expense. Will this property that is being purchased be available for the use by all the citizens of the city, such as is Goose Pond Park and the other city-owned facilities? I agree with Dr. Price that the money could be used for better purposes. Drive over some of our streets and I think you will agree.
This is nothing more than another taxpayer bailout of a failing business. I agree with Jeff Price, the money could have been better spent on the roads and city infrastructure. How does this benefit the taxpayers of the City of Clanton?
I have to agree, the money spent on the golf course seems a complete waste. I don’t have a vote in Clanton elections as I live i an unincorporated area, but I’ll remember this and check to see if they move from city politics to county politics.