Village not ready to buy Binks golf course

Council members want more details before going ahead.

WELLINGTON — Wellington’s Village Council is not ready to make any decisions on getting into the golf business.

Several council members said they still have more questions and need more information, including public feedback and opportunities for private-public partnerships, before they are ready to decide on the possible purchase of Binks Forest Golf Club.

Councilman John McGovern said he would have to know more about the state of the buildings on the property and more details on renovation costs.

“I think that, right now, this is not a good investment for the village,” he said, adding that the issue isn’t dire yet because the course is still up and running.

Conversely, councilman Matt Willhite thinks that snapping up the golf course now could be a good investment because the village only has $7 million in debt and can afford to take on more. He likened it to the purchase of the K-Park property, which has greatly increased in value since the village bought it in 2003.

The village recently got two appraisals on the Binks property, which valued it at $2.7 million and $3.4 million respective- ly. Those figures are lower than the property owners’ appraisal of $3.6 million, Wellington operations director Jim Barnes said.

Binks Exchange Co., the current owners, have said they will not sell the property for less than $3 million.

Barnes also estimates it would cost an additional $750,000 to improve the course. The village hopes the golf course would break even by the third year in terms of operating costs and revenue.

Local residents are largely split on the idea of buying the course. In the recent budget challenge poll, 55 percent of the 391 people surveyed were against the idea.

Tuesday night, three people were in favor and three were against.

The men who spoke against the purchase worry that the price to renovate it would be more than $750,000.

Village resident Bobby Munden also believes that the course is worth less than asking price.

“If they could sell this course for $3 million, they would have already done it,” he said.

But residents in the Binks Forest area think the course could be an asset for all of Wellington.

“If Wellington did buy this course, our village would have something special,” Morley Alperstein said.