Council approves golf course contract

By Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

The New Prague City Council approved a contract with Golf Management Enterprises, LLC to provide management services for the New Prague Golf Club. The 4-1 vote came at the council's Tuesday, Jan. 18 meeting.

Wade Brod of New Prague operates Golf Management Enterprises. After making a proposal in November, he met with City Administrator Mike Johnson, then incoming Mayor Chuck Nickolay, council member Mark Bartusek and New Prague Golf Board member Dwayne Anderson about the contract. Also part of the discussions was city attorney Scott Riggs of the firm Kennedy & Graven.

The contract is for 11 months, starting February 1. The firm will be paid $5,000 per month, a projected savings of of $29,504 based on the club's budget that was approved in December.

Council member Kristin Guerrette cast the only no vote. Among the reasons she listed was she felt the contract had been done without the council or the New Prague Golf Board being part of it. Her understanding was that the group that was appointed in November was to look at the feasibility of having Golf Management Enterprises contracted to provide golf management services.

She also had issues that the business would have Kurt Ruehling as the person working in the management position. Ruehling worked for a brief time as the manager of the golf club. While she's heard some people say they like the idea, others have felt he left the club high and dry.

If he's that good why don't we hire him back instead of working with a middleman? asked Guerrette.

She suggested waiting 30 days to look at the possibility of hiring a manager.

Johnson noted that with the amount of time required to search for a general manager, advertising and going over applicants it would take longer then 30 days.

The other council members weighed in with their thoughts

I don't completely disagree with Kristin

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