Ocoee approves $4.5 million settlement to reclaim Forest Lake Golf Course; selects interim operator

The Ocoee City Commission voted to approve a mediated settlement that will require the city to pay $4,500,000 to Forest Lake Golf Club and to take physical control of the golf course and its effluent disposal system on May 1, with an interim operator to run the facility while the city issues a request for proposals for a long-term operator.

City Attorney summarized the Seventh Amendment that implements the settlement and the payment schedule: $750,000 is due on or before May 1, 2025, and $3,750,000 is due on or before Nov. 3, 2025. "If the city commission approves the Seventh Amendment tonight, the city will have until May 1 to amend the city budget to provide for payment to Forest Lake of $4,500,000 to be paid as follows: $750,000 to be paid on or before 05/01/2025 and $3,750,000 to be paid on or before 11/03/2025," the attorney said.

The amendment also provides that the lease to Forest Lake will terminate on May 1 if the city completes the closing steps, and the city will take over operation through an interim operator on that date. The city must either amend its budget or provide a letter-of-intent or bond acceptable to Forest Lake by May 1 or the Seventh Amendment will lapse,…