POA OKs golf cart proposal, several others

At Thursday’s board meeting, the POA Board of Directors approved several projects that had been discussed in last week’s work session and one presented by Golf Operations Director Phillip Wright.

Two of the capital projects are planned for Branchwood.

The parking lot is already overcrowded at times General Manager Tom Judson told the board. The new trail is adding vehicles, he said. This summer the parking lot will be expanded, at the cost of about $50,000.

The building is also too small. Judson asked the board to approve $14,000 to begin a renovation. The first step is the architectural work to add a multipurpose room and renovate the lobby and locker rooms. Once the drawings are made, the costs of the project can be estimated. Currently, exercise classes at Branchwood are taking place on the racket ball courts which are small and on the lower level of the building.

The board also approved the beach at Lake Avalon. The cost of that project is $207,701. The beach was part of the Rejuvenation Plan, which was developed during the last assessment election. When the assessment didn’t pass, the beach and several other improvements were put on hold. Judson said he has heard a lot of comments about the beach not going through.

The new plan adds a fee to use the beach. It would be the same fee as the outdoor pools at Kingsdale and Metfield. The concession stand where admission is collected will also rent kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Judson said the concessions will probably cover the cost of

operating the beach.

Most of the work will be done during the final quarter of 2017. The lake will be lowered so sand can be added on shore and out into the lake. The pavilion and restrooms will be renovated. A fence around the beach area, a gate for the parking lot and a beach volleyball court will be part of the project.

The first portion of the project may be parking lot expansion, because money can be saved by doing the work along with a parking lot project planned for Branchwood this summer.

Finally, the board approved a proposal brought by Phillip Wright, director of golf operations. Wright wants to replace 360 gas powered golf carts with electric carts. All the carts are leased.

In 2014, electric carts were replaced with gas because the price of the lease was lower. Since then an above ground gas tank was installed near the Kingsdale

cart barn, but at the other courses, carts have been filled from tanks in the maintenance areas.

Batteries for the new carts will be guaranteed to last 36 holes, Wright told the committee. If there’s a problem, the company will

switch out the batteries. The guarantee is good for three years which is the length of the lease.

Wright said the change will save $42,077 in operating costs and improve the golf experience since electric carts are quieter.