County calls May 13 hearing on Salt Lake star bond district for proposed 620‑acre golf resort

The Reno County Commission on April 8 adopted a resolution calling a May 13 public hearing to consider creating a star bond project district for a proposed Salt Lake Golf and Hunting Resort developed by Salt Lake LLC.

Bob Johnson, counsel for Salt Lake LLC, and developer Jim Claussman presented the project to the commission and described a phased, multi‑course destination on roughly 620 acres with lodging, a clubhouse and ancillary amenities. Johnson characterized today's action as a procedural first step: “We are on step one,” he said, explaining that creating a star bond district sets geographic boundaries and a 12‑month sales tax baseline but does not itself commit county taxpayer dollars to the project.

Presenters described phase one as an 18‑hole championship course (the Salt Lake Dunes) with a clubhouse and 48 lodging units, and said the full build‑out could include two additional courses, a par‑three loop and up to roughly 180–200 lodging units. The team said a Department of Commerce visitation assessment had been positive and that subsequent project‑plan hearings (statutorily required) would include financial feasibility analysis and additional public review. Project materials and remarks included two dates for opening: developers mentioned delivery of a phase‑one course “by the 2027 golf season,” while a project narrative referenced an opening in 2028; the commission will review timing and details in later hearings.

County staff framed adoption of Resolution 2026‑09 (resolution number provided in staff materials) as a call to a May 13, 2026 public hearing in the Reno County Courthouse veterans room pursuant to KSA 12‑17160. Counsel said the star bond mechanism would capture sales tax increment generated by the project within the district to repay bond debt service; the state Department of Commerce must also find eligibility for a star bond district.

The motion to adopt the resolution passed on a roll call vote, with Commissioners Perks, Vincent, Winger, Bogner and Hurst recorded as voting "yes." The resolution was described as step one in a multi‑step statutory process that would include feasibility studies, project‑plan hearings and, if the county and state approve, issuance of star bonds.

Next steps: the commission will hold the May 13 public hearing to consider creating a star bond district; if the commission approves the district, staff said a project‑plan public hearing could be scheduled by mid/late June as required by statute.