Council to explore contract with golf association after operator resigns

The Milford City Council discussed a proposal on June 17 to contract operation of the municipal golf course to the local golf association after the course operator turned in the keys.

City staff and council members reported recent meetings with the golf association'including its representatives Brady Williams and Craig Wiseman'about a contract in which the city would allocate the salary/wage portion of the golf operations budget to the association. Under the proposal the association would hire 5 to 7 named members and place them on payroll; those individuals would secure workers' compensation coverage (the association indicated it would pay a nominal $10 monthly amount for each listed person to be covered under the city's workers' comp, per the discussion). The city would retain responsibility for major repairs, purchase tires and supply a fuel card; daily maintenance would be the association's responsibility. Council members stressed training and limits on who may operate heavy equipment.

Why it matters: Transferring day'to'day operations to the association would shift routine maintenance responsibilities to volunteers or association employees while the city retains capital and large-repair obligations. The arrangement could preserve course operations with greater volunteer involvement but raises questions about training, equipment care and liability.

Key elements under discussion - Payroll and workers' compensation: The association proposed placing 5 to 7 members on payroll; council and staff discussed insurance and the city's current workers' compensation exposure if operators remain city employees. - Equipment, fuel and maintenance: The city would continue to cover major repairs and supply tires and a fuel card; the association would handle daily maintenance and name one or two people responsible for fuel card use and maintenance logs. - Fees and capital fund: Council members suggested city-collected green fees be used to offset costs and that remaining funds be placed into a capital improvement fund for course projects to be managed jointly with the association. - Job description and scope: The association would follow the existing job description the city prepared for an operator; the description defines which tasks fall under the contractor's responsibilities and when city crew assistance may be requested.

Council direction and next steps - City staff will draft a contract reflecting the discussed responsibilities and return it to council for review. Council members asked city maintenance staff (Ben and crew) to train association members on equipment operation and to set clear expectations about maintenance schedules and timer operation for irrigation.

Quotes and concerns - Council members emphasized caution about equipment operation and the need for training: one council member said it is important "to be very careful about who's operating that equipment so that it could [not] be torn up." Another member said Ben should train those who will operate irrigation timers to avoid damage or prolonged outages.

Ending note: Staff will prepare a draft contract and circulate it to council members for review; no formal contract vote occurred at the June 17 meeting.