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Council approves $100,000 transfer to Jack Rabbit Run operating account; councilors press for long-term plan
Summary
Council authorized a $100,000 transfer to Jack Rabbit Run Golf Course’s operating account and discussed recurring transfers, the Landscapes Unlimited management contract and upcoming lease and contract expirations.
The Grand Island City Council on March 25 approved a $100,000 transfer to the Jack Rabbit Run Golf Course operating account after hearing staff presentations and extended council questions about repeated subsidies and the course’s management contract.
Patrick Brown, the city’s assistant city administrator and chief financial officer, told the council the request seeks a $100,000 operating transfer for the upcoming fiscal year. He said the city entered a management contract with Landscapes Unlimited on Dec. 8, 2020. Brown said he had reviewed the operator’s three-month projection and requested a full-year projection before presenting the request to council.
Council Member Hossie questioned why the city needed to add $100,000 when recent seasonal revenue typically arrives as golf leagues begin and when the course showed positive cash flow in financials. Hossie noted prior city transfers of $85,000 in 2022 and $100,000 in 2024 and said the city had not received any of those funds back. “We’re still dumping a hundred grand a year in taxpayer money into it to make it run,” Hossie said, and said the council will need to discuss the course’s operational model when the management contract and the airport lease come up for renewal.
Brown said the operating account is held jointly by the city and the manager; after bills are paid any leftover funds would return to the city. He said he had requested the operator’s annual projections before bringing the item forward and did not dispute their estimates.
Council Member Lanfear moved to approve consent item 6T (transfer of $100,000 to Jack Rabbit Run); Council Member O'Neil seconded. The motion was adopted.
Council members urged staff to include a broader review of the course’s financial model and the upcoming contract and lease renewals — Brown said the airport lease is due to end in April 2026 and the Landscapes Unlimited management contract ends in 2025. No vote tally was announced at the meeting.
