Parks board approves $100,000 allocation for Zionsville Golf Course snack shack; procurement rules to apply

The Zionsville Board of Parks and Recreation voted unanimously Sept. 10 to approve up to $100,000 from the golf enterprise fund toward construction of a snack‑shack building and an accessible restroom at the Zionsville Golf Course; roughly $33,000 of that sum will be encumbered for fiscal 2026. The project budget is $267,952, and project managers plan to stage the work across fall 2025 and spring 2026.

The board’s action authorizes Zionsville National, the course’s operating manager, to move forward under the terms of the operating agreement and to follow the applicable procurement rules for any use of town or park funds. John, the parks attorney, told the board that using town funds subjects the project to Indiana public‑works procurement requirements under Indiana Code 36‑1‑12, including advertising, sealed bids for public projects above the statutory threshold and performance/payment bonds when required.

Zionsville National representatives said the facility will be a small snack counter with seating that overlooks holes 5–8. “The coolest thing for me is lots of young families out there golfing that I hadn’t seen before,” said Pete, a Zionsville National representative. The operator said the project will include moving a driveway easement to establish a safer nine‑foot pedestrian/golf‑cart path and build a small building intended for hot dogs, coffee and other walk‑up items.

The operator estimates the project at $267,952 and proposed splitting the cost across two fiscal years, seeking roughly $67,000 from the enterprise fund in fall 2025 and the remainder in 2026. Jared, the parks superintendent, confirmed the fund at issue is the enterprise fund established under the lease (referred to in the discussion as the 06/06/2007 fund). He told the board the fund historically receives a percentage of greens fees (10% or a minimum of $50,000) and currently sits at just under $300,000.

Board members emphasized that any expenditure of town or park board funds must follow the procurement and public‑works statutes. John said the typical threshold requiring formal bidding for public works projects is $150,000 and noted there are distinct rules for quotes versus formal bids; he also explained that the town must require bonds and that the board must take the lowest responsive, responsible bid when the public works bidding rules apply.

At the meeting a motion to approve the $100,000 allocation with approximately $33,000 encumbered for the next fiscal year passed on a roll call vote with all six members present voting aye: Chris Barksdale; Kimberly Lane; Matt Milburn; Chad Dilley; Anna Shepell; and Ryan Cambridge.

The board directed Zionsville National to comply with the procurement provisions in the operating agreement and applicable Indiana law; staff said the project will be publicly bid or quoted consistent with those rules, and the operator agreed to provide bid documentation to the board (AIA draw forms and bid summaries) as the project proceeds. The board discussion also flagged potential future capital priorities for the course (irrigation, clubhouse) and noted the enterprise fund balance and annual deposits will guide timing of those projects.