MASON CITY – The Mason City Parks Board on Tuesday approved a plan to re-organize how Highland Golf Course is run.
The board, on a 5-0 vote, ok’d the plan laid out by City Administrator Brent Trout and Recreation Director Brian Pauly.
The plan calls for no new golf pro to be hired at Highland. Former Highland golf pro John Pritchard retired and that position would be replaced with a new position called Program Coordinator. The position would have a number of part-time persons under its direction. Specifics were not readily available Wednesday but will be made public as soon as they are released. According to Pauly, the overall wages would only be about $640 per year more than what is currently paid.
With no golf pro under contract at the course, Pauly said that the new hires will bring a new level of flexibility to Highland and the Recreation Department. For example, the course could open and close during the fall and spring season as weather dictates versus the hard dates that might be set under the direction of the course pro. The additional staff will be able to cross over and help with other programs and duties in the recreation department as needed and as time permits, particularly in the months the course is closed.
The goal with the move is to raise revenues, clear up $20,000 in debt that Highland has accumulated over the past six years, and make the operation sustainable while making new resources available to Pauly.
The issue now goes before the Mason City Council for a vote as early as January 15th.
Watch video of Park Board meeting:
httpv://youtu.be/Rv1-f3tnX4w