Golf course manager commended for staying in black

The city council approved a new two-year contract with Schultz, who has managed the course for some 20 years.

The contract includes a 2 percent base raise for 2009, bringing the base compensation to $132,863, and another 2 percent base raise for 2010, brining the total to $135,520.

But that total isn't just for Schultz's pay.

With that, Schultz must maintain the golf course and pay any laborer's wages, benefits and workman's comp., run the golf Pro Shop, promote the golf course, and generally continue the golf course's business.

City Administrator Scott Langel commended Schultz' work to the council.

"Under Doug's leadership out at the golf course, which is going on 20 plus years, our golf course has been self-sufficient the whole period," Langel said.

In other words, the fees and the general operation of the course covers the cost for it to be open -- not property taxes.

"Every municipally held public golf course surrounding us, as well as many, perhaps all in the nation, uses tax dollars to fulfill the bottom line," he added. "In Le Mars it does not."

"There's very few golf courses around here that break even," Mayor Dick Kirchoff added.

Councilman Ken Nelson also praised Schultz and his crew for their willingness to help around the recreation trail.

"I think a lot of golf courses would have said, 'No, we're not having a trail around golfers," he said. "A lot of people get to enjoy the golf course who never play golf."

As for the bar operations at the Willow Creek Golf Course Clubhouse, the Le Mars Parks Committee is stepping back to the drawing board.

Formerly, committee members were seeking ideas and offers on managing the clubhouse's bar, but they decided to hold off on that until later.

"We're going to be formulating our own business plan," Langel said.

The committee, he said, will re-advertise Jan. 9-23 for new proposals.

"The first function that we'll need those services appears to be March 17," Langel said. "So we have time and the committee decided to take the time to do it right."