PC mulls private management for Atchafalaya course

Continued losses at the parish owned golf course in Patterson has some members of the parish council asking if private management would be better.
Golf Course Commission Chairman Rudy Sparks presented the Atchafalaya at Idlewild’s projected budget for the upcoming fiscal year to the parish council Wednesday.
The budget anticipates income of $1.39 million and expenses of $1.26 million. It reflects a net income of $1,476 after operating expenses are removed. The parish council typically kicks in as much as $250,000 annually to subsidize losses.
According to the 2012-13 budget, there was a projected $3,609 net income, but the year ended with a $239,100 loss. The 2013-14 budget predicts a $4,322 gain at year end on Sept. 30, and figures point to a shortfall of $126,747.
Sparks added that some $94,000 in sales taxes is returned to the parish and the course has an estimated $700,000 annual economic impact on St. Mary.
Councilman Glen Hidalgo of Bayou Vista noted that upon his urging last year, the commission had heard a presentation by a golf course management company and asked Sparks of the outcome.
Sparks said that after hearing from that company as well as others “the majority of the commission felt that we were better served to continue the way that we’re currently operating.”
He added that the turning over operations would mean giving up control and having to pay out anywhere from $80,000 to $120,000 in management fees.
“We would ultimately find ourselves in a position where they would start cutting corners on maintenance of the facility … and we would be left with a facility in very poor condition,” he said.
Hidalgo and Councilman David Hanagriff said they would still like to “see the hard numbers” from management companies and asked for the administration to send out a request for proposals.
In other business Wednesday the council:
—Told Sami Riley, executive director of Chez Hope, that funding for installation of a new roof on its Children’s Center would be considered.
—Passed resolutions on an agreement with the Department of Transportation and Development on a lighting upgrade project at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport; a plea to the state Congressional delegation to support the Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act; a contract with Patriot Construction & Equipment LLC on the Charenton Canal Industrial Park Project; and retention of William D. Aaron Jr., Aaron & Gianna PLC, for legal services related to the Lloyd Harris discrimination complaint.
—Approved funding transfer requests from Councilman Lionel “Butch” Metz in the amounts of $1,500 from the gaming fund to the 100 Black Men of St. Mary for its 17th Annual 5K Run/Walk; and from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax fund in the amounts of $1,700 to the Baldwin Police Department for equipment repairs, and $1,000 to the Town of Baldwin for Baldwin Pee Wee Football League equipment; and also from Councilman Logan Fromenthal for $5,000 from the gaming fund to the City of Berwick for its community celebration.
—Referred to finance committee an annual funding request from St. Mary Community Action Agency for $69,500 for its transportation fund and elderly nutrition program.
—Told Verdunville resident Mark A. Bogan that providing a stipend to drivers of the veterans’ bus to out of town VA clinics would be discussed at the next Council of Governments meeting.