By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
Director of Parks Jeff Boyle presented proposed fee changes for the Golf Course and Pool for the 2025 and 2026 seasons during Thursday’s City Commission meeting.
The proposed changes for the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course keep the Junior golf rate of $10 for 18 holes the same, but would increase the fee for a regular 9-hole round from $16 to $17. The 18-hole weekday rate would increase from $22 to $23 and the weekend rate from $25 to $26. A single membership would increase from $535 to $575 and a couple membership would increase from $645 to $720. Family memberships would increase from $715 to $740. Trail fees would increase from $200 to $220. The cart shed fee would remain the same at $300.
Boyle compared these fees to 23 different public golf courses in the state, with the recommended changes still placing Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course below average in all categories except the Trail Fee.
The proposed changes would increase the golf course revenue by approximately $24,103; however, Boyle noted the number of rounds played at the golf course has been increasing, so the revenue may end up being more than what’s projected. This will help to lessen the gap between expenses and revenue at the course. Historically, the golf course has had higher expenditures than revenues.
Commissioner Reese Barrick said there are about 300 memberships at the golf course and asked if the fee increases could spur new memberships.
“I’ve watched the trends of membership and they kind of maintain those levels, but if the daily fees feel like more than what somebody who plays a lot would like to pay, then they probably will become a member,” Boyle said. “It’s hard to say.”
The Hays Aquatic Park also has expenditures exceeding revenue. The recommended fee increases change the daily rate from $4.50 to $5 and the season passes from $50 to $53. The season pass rate remains the lowest compared to eight other public pools with the average cost of a season pass at $104.62
Vice Mayor Sandy Jacobs also pointed out that the current pool opened in 2000.
“I think we really need to get out on the horizon and see what the future looks like,” Jacobs said.
Mayor Shaun Musil disagreed, saying kids don’t go to the pool as often as they used to.
“You always want to look at something new, but to invest in something that is never going to make us money, I just struggle to invest more,” Musil said.
Jacobs said she never expects to make money on the pool, but that it is a quality of life issue.
“I think the pools that are newer and have done things have seen increases,” Jacobs said.
Commissioner Alaina Cunningham also said if other pools within driving distance start making improvements, the Hays pool may start to lose people.
The current increases are not significant enough for any large-scale changes, so those decisions will be in the hands of future city commissions.
The increases were unanimously approved as presented.
Other items from the meeting included the awarding of $16,500 to T & T Builders for Hays Aquatic Park concrete repairs and several resolutions evidencing intent to issue industrial revenue bonds.
The next City Commission meeting will be at 4:00 p.m. on September 5 at City Hall.
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