Royal City Golf Course anticipating profit for 2019, 2020

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City Golf Course is projecting a net profit of approximately $10,000 in 2019. That was the report that Patrick Dorsing of the Royal Golf Club Association gave to the Royal City City Council during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 17. As part of the city’s contract with the golf course association, the association is expected to come and talk about the budget for the current year and what they are projecting for the next year.

While the 2019 budget is expecting a huge net profit, 2020 is only expecting a profit of $4,200. The profits from 2019 are due to extra inventory, such as fertilizer, that the association purchased in 2018. In 2020, they will have to repurchase that inventory. They also expect to lose some memberships.

“It is my understanding that the golf course doesn’t make money every year,” said Shilo Christensen, finance director for the City of Royal City. “Sometimes they come out even. Sometimes they lose money.”

The council approved the city’s 2020 annual payment of $5,000 to the golf course. The payment is part of the city’s and golf associations contract.

In other business, the council authorized the mayor to sign the 2020 agreement with the Grant County Health District. The city pays $1 per resident. Current census estimates suggest that Royal City has around 2,230 residents.

Council also authorized Mayor Kent Andersen to sign amendment number one of the city’s contract with Anderson Perry and Associates. The amendment adds language required by the Department of Ecology before they will award the city a loan for $150,000 for a wastewater facility plan. Half of the loan is low interest while the other half is forgivable.

Andersen was also authorized to sign a $21,333 loan for the design portion of the Ultraviolet Wastewater Treatment project. The loan is only half of the money that the city received. The other half has received loan forgiveness.

The council approved a motion to allow Andersen to sign a contract with Reuel Klempel as the city’s back up wastewater three operator, on the condition that “everything looks good” with Klempel’s insurance and the final contract, according to Christensen. This is will satisfy Department of Ecology requirements.

The council heard a presentation from Andrew Klempel, of Correct Equipment, of Redmond, on smart water meters. Currently the city has mechanical water meters that have to manually be read. Smart water meters are read by radio and can be read while driving by.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.