INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and#8212; The district is one step closer to possibly outsourcing management of the Championship Golf Course.
Incline Village General Improvement District trustees voted 4-0 (Bea Epstein was absent) Wednesday for staff to create a draft Request For Proposal to understand what an outside company would be responsible for should it take over management of the 18-hole, par-72 golf course.
Staff is expected to come back with the RFP at a future meeting, at which point the board could vote to put it out to bid.
Trustee Joe Wolfe recommended the RFP be created, a decision made after meeting over the past couple months with fellow Trustee Bruce Simonian, Champ Course Golf Pro Charlie Kent and Mountain Course Golf Pro Angie Rodriguez, as part of a golf course outsourcing committee.
Based on those meetings and discussions with members of the Incline Village and Tahoe Incline golf clubs, Wolfe said the districtand#8217;s best move is to investigate an RFP and#8212; knowing it can reject any offer and#8212; to see possible benefits.
and#8220;This offers us an opportunity to become educated in how others may operate golf courses (at a profit),and#8221; Wolfe said.
The biggest pro of an outside company managing the Champ Course, trustees said, is IVGIDand#8217;s expenses would go down because a company can get better prices for fertilizer and other maintenance-related items, and the district would not have to employ people in golf course management positions.
Potential cons, trustees said, are a company could clean house and fire good IVGID employees; and the unknown variables of how well a company would pay attention to robust upkeep of the course and IVGID buildings, and to customer service.
The overall consensus from people Simonian said he has talked with and#8212; including non-golf club members and#8212; is to and#8220;maintain the road weand#8217;re on and and#8230; give it another year,and#8221; considering this summer was Kentand#8217;s first managing the course.
and#8220;Thereand#8217;s a fear of losing some good staff that have really stepped up this past year,and#8221; Simonian said.
Wolfe countered, saying while that may be an unfortunate reality, it is worth the districtand#8217;s time to investigate an RFP because and#8220;the object of this board is to have a fiduciary responsibly up front.and#8221;
During public comment, some residents agreed.
and#8220;This is a good idea ... to look and see where thereand#8217;s going to be savings,and#8221; said Margaret Martini.
Aaron Katz, who is suing the district regarding various alleged illegal actions, said the golf course deserves a management team that can bring a profit, considering that hasnand#8217;t happened in recent years with IVGID operating it.
and#8220;Iand#8217;m in favor of an RFP ... hereand#8217;s an opportunity to test the waters,and#8221; he said.
After the 4-0 vote, board chair Ted Fuller made somewhat of an ominous statement about what will happen if an outside firm were to manage the Champ Course.
and#8220;You will see changes,and#8221; he said.
