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Sebring council rejects prior golf‑course proposals and approves new 30‑day RFP with Oct. 1 preference
Summary
Facing no substantive response from the Blackman Group, the council voted to reject prior respondents to the golf‑course RFP and immediately reissue the RFP with a 30‑day window and a stated preference for operators able to assume control by Oct. 1, 2026.
The Sebring City Council on June 16 moved to reject earlier respondents to the golf‑course request for proposals and to reissue the RFP with a 30‑day submittal window and an added preference for bidders able to begin operations Oct. 1, 2026.
City attorney Swain told councilors a proposed lease had been submitted to the Blackman Group but the city had received no substantive response. Swain said he had asked the Blackmans’ counsel for a virtual meeting and requested a finalized lease be presented to council by its June meeting, but received no reply. “We need a finalized version to be presented to city council in its June 16 meeting,” Swain stated in describing his outreach.
Several council members said the lack of response from the Blackman Group raised concern. One council member said, “The silence is what I'm most concerned with,” and argued the council could move on if the group would not engage. Council alternatives discussed included a short, new RFP with language giving preference to proposals that could begin operations Oct. 1 and a limited due‑diligence window.
During public comment, golfers and local business owners urged a quick decision so employees and operators would know the course’s future; Chip Boring, speaking as a taxpayer and long‑time user, asked the council to act promptly. Warren Hall asked whether the council could move to the next ranked proposal from the earlier process; councilors said they preferred reissuing the RFP to solicit fresh interest and allow a short turnaround.
Council member (speaker 5) moved to reject the previous respondents and reissue the RFP with a 30‑day window and a preference for operators who could take over operations by Oct. 1, 2026; a colleague seconded the motion and the council approved it.
Why it matters: The decision accelerates the city’s effort to transfer golf‑course operations off the city’s balance sheet and establishes a clear timeline and preference designed to limit the city’s continued operational exposure into the new budget year.
