Meadowlakes contracts for Hidden Falls Country Club general manager
Hatch, who was approved during a special meeting Thursday, replaces the previous general manager Charlie Mabie, who resigned in October for personal reasons, city officials said.
The city purchased the country club in March from Mike McClung for $2.9 million. One of the main reasons the city bought the course was to have a place to dispense effluent from a wastewater treatment facility.
But city leaders also decided in the spring to continue operating the course and country club.
Mayor John Aaron said Hatch brings more than 20 years of executive management experience with him.
But Hatch wasn’t looking for long-term employment, the mayor said.
Hatch will not only manage the country club, but also mentor the staff so eventually one of the employees could move into the general manager’s slot someday.
Because this a contractual agreement, Aaron said Hatch wasn’t getting any employee benefits. The terms of the agreement save the city about $20,000 compared to what Mabie was paid, the mayor said.
The city council also voted to allow city staff to apply for a full premises mixed-beverage liquor license for Hidden Falls Country Club. This will allow the club to sell and serve beer, wine and liquor in the restaurant, pro shop, pool area and on the golf cart path.
The city considered applying for two separate licenses — beer and wine for the pro shop and cart path and a mixed-beverage permit for the pool area and clubhouse. But after much discussion the council decided it was not efficient operating two separate businesses because the rules differ for both permits.
“You’re running two bars, in effect,” Councilman Laird Landis said.
The mixed-beverage permit will cost the city $3,256. It is a budgeted item, Aaron said.
In other business, City Council smoothed out a few bumps in the services contract with the Meadowlakes Property Owners Association.
Under the contract discussed Thursday, the city will continue to provide the same services to the POA it has previously with the exception of mowing the parks and vacant lots.
Aaron said the POA is reconsidering how often the mowing is conducted and members might go out for bids to cover the landscaping service.
The contract also allows the city to do some minor repairs on roads and other POA property. The agreement called for “routine maintenance,” but the council changed the wording to “requested maintenance.”
“It’s basically on demand,” Aaron said. “(The POA) makes the call and then we invoice them for the work.”
Under the contract, the city also provides services such as bookkeeping, administrative and brush removal for the POA.The council sent the agreement back to the POA board for consideration.
Aaron said while working out the contract with the POA he became aware of a rift between the two groups. He said in the past they have had a good relationship.
The mayor wants to patch things up by scheduling regular meetings between the council and POA board.
“There is just no substitution for sitting down and talking,” Aaron said.
daniel@thepicayune.com