BARRHEAD – The Barrhead Golf and Recreation Area Society are one step closer to receiving the money they need to make improvements at the Barrhead Golf Course campground.
County of Barrhead councillors unanimously gave first reading to Bylaw 8-2020 during their April 7 meeting. If passed, it would allow the municipality to take out a debenture on behalf of the society to a maximum value of $115,250.
The society would then repay the municipality for the debenture, at a three per cent interest rate, over 15 years, making annual payments of $9,654.10.
The not-for-profit organization was created in 1984. Its first project being the creation of a golf course. Over the years the society has made improvements to the golf course and expanded the property to include a campground to attract more golfers.
Finance director Tamara Molzhan noted the reason why the society asked the county to front the debenture instead of going to the bank is that the land is owned by the Town of Barrhead and the County of Barrhead makes securing financing difficult.
She also noted that if the bylaw is passed it would be the second time the county has taken out a debenture on the society’s behalf. The first debenture was for $135,000 in 2008 for improvements to the golf club parking lot.
In November 2019, approved a development permit for the society to construct an additional 16 sites as well as a washroom facility.
Since then the society has revised their plansn reducing the number of additional sites by six and adding a well to supplement the water needed for the upgraded washroom facility.
In its submission asking for the debenture, the society board stated that the campground improvements would help the property to continue to be viable.
“The Barrhead Golf Club faces declining membership, ever-changing demographics, modern-day realities of extensive and expensive maintenance and refurbishment demands,” the society board stated.
As part of its attempts to find a new revenue stream, in 2014 the campground was expanded from 12 sites to 26, with 12 to 14 being seasonal.
With the addition of the extra sites, the annual revenue generated by the campground increased from about $2,000 to $30,000. The society estimates the additional 10 sites will increase revenue by another $14,000 compared to an extra $3,000 in expenses.
Coun. Darrell Troock asked how many of the sites would be seasonal.
“It will be based on supply and demand. [Seasonal sites] have been a good source of revenue for us,” said society board member Brent Grabler, noting a seasonal site can bring up to $1,300.
But having said that, Grabler added the society plans to always have a percentage of the sites available for nightly camping. Coun. Ron Kleinfeldt asked where the funds would come from if the debenture was approved.
Molzahn responded that it would come from the recreational reserve fund, adding the society’s payments would be used to replenish those reserves.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun said, that although a public hearing isn’t required before subsequent readings, they must advertise when they take place in the local newspaper to allow residents to comment, and if opposed, the opportunity to submit a petition.
Neerlandia Sports Committee
In two separate motions approved a request from the Neerlandia Sports Committee for an in-kind donation of 1,000 yards of sand. The sand will be used as part of the committee’s plan to construct a multi-sport facility and community hall in the hamlet. Currently, the project is in phase 1 — the construction of an outdoor ice-rink.
About a year-and-a-half ago councillors approved a similar in-kind donation of gravel.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
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