Washington County Board Approves Golf Course Expansion Resolution and Funding Strategy

The Washington County Land Use & Planning Committee convened on August 22, 2025, to discuss key resolutions impacting local development and infrastructure. The meeting began with a focus on a resolution concerning Druid Lake, where committee members expressed unanimous support for protecting homeowners' property rights. The discussion emphasized the importance of gathering rainfall data to strengthen the resolution's effectiveness before it is presented to the county board.

Following this, the committee moved on to a significant agenda item regarding the expansion of the Washington County Golf Course. Supervisor Pridemore introduced a resolution authorizing the project and the use of cash reserves to initiate it. The committee reviewed previous discussions about financing options, including potential debt issuance to support the project. The proposed financing scenarios included borrowing $1.5 million over 15 years or $1 million over 7 years, with varying interest costs.

Ken, a representative involved in the project, highlighted the importance of timing in the approval process, noting that bids for the project would be received on October 21. The committee agreed that the resolution would allow for flexibility in funding while ensuring that the project could proceed without impacting property taxes.

Supervisor Krebs raised concerns about maintaining adequate working capital and ensuring that the project would not proceed too far without secured funding. The committee acknowledged the need for milestones to prevent overextending resources.

The meeting concluded with a call for a vote on the Druid Lake resolution, which passed with one abstention. The committee expressed gratitude to residents for their participation, underscoring the importance of community engagement in local governance. The next steps include finalizing the golf course project details and preparing for the upcoming bid review.