Council approves Jack Rabbit Run fee increases after debate over youth access and complimentary rounds

The Grand Island City Council approved a package of fee changes for Jack Rabbit Run on Dec. 9 after hearing a presentation from Landscapes Unlimited and extended questioning from council members about youth access, complimentary rounds and operating expenses.

Sedonna Manful, golf manager for Landscapes Unlimited, told the council the company needs to raise rates because of rising costs including a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour (effective Jan. 1), higher chemical, repair and utility expenses and other operational pressures. "Minimum wage is increasing to $15 an hour ... it has impacted our hourly pay by about $125,000 per year," Manful said.

Council members pressed for data on junior golf participation and complimentary rounds after a report line suggested a 33 percent drop in juniors and a dramatic rise in complimentary rounds. Council member Chuck (first referenced as 'Mr. Hosy' in the record) said he wanted the staff and the vendor to reconcile reported drops in junior participation and to examine why complimentary rounds rose from a few dozen to nearly 1,800 in recent years.

Landscapes and city staff responded that junior rounds overall are up when accounting for programs such as Youth on Course, which offers low-cost play for youth, and that many complimentary rounds are employee benefits, gift certificates or recruiting tools for staff. Landscapes said program and reporting definitions led to confusion in line-item reporting and promised to work with staff to clarify the monthly financial reports.

Council members expressed support for the course and for the company’s track record in increasing rounds and revenue since taking the contract, while also asking staff to keep reviewing expense drivers and to monitor youth engagement. The council voted to adopt the fee schedule included in the fiscal year 2026 budget package.