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DAYTON FLYERS REUNION  Rick Pictured with Oscar Robinson...

HOOSIER HYSTERIA  9/7/2007   Teaming Up For Rick Thalls....

News Conference 8/21/2007

The Current Controversy at the City Golf Courses

Jerry Wright's firing under the guise of "necessary cutbacks" is unfortunate for several reasons.  It is sad because of his almost 30 years with the city.  If he indeed was fired without any advanced notice, then he was treated unfairly too.

The leadership is one important part of this issue.

It is the mayor's desk where the park superintendent and the good people who volunteer to serve on boards, like the Park Board, should expect support and direction.  Arguably the firing decision should be approved by the mayor anyway.  Was it?

As to the necessity for the termination itself, I'll make the following comments:

If elected mayor, the first week in January I would put together a citizen team to evaluate the best use of this city owned resource (Highland and Glen Miller) to evaluate the community need, best use, and best strategy for utilizing the property to the advantage of our city.  This will include evaluating the process used to terminate Jerry Wright.

I would be open to the make-up of the team but I would appoint people to the team from different perspectives and areas of expertise.  I would solicit participation from golf professionals, including former pro and Richmond area resident Ron Demao, from the economic development corporation office, Tourism, Chamber, and Economic Growth Group.

I will ask a member of the Park Board to serve on the citizen team as well...

The primary issue being the City Golf Courses...

Retaining ownership, leasing, public private partnerships, and even possibly selling the property for development have to all be carefully considered.

With the right approach and the right leadership we may draw people in and have a very successful golf program for years to come.

At this time, we know that with the north side area development of the hospital, state infrastructure improvements at I70 and US 27, medical and other professional office developments in the area, university and community college growth, the Highland Lake property is enormously valuable.

We need a fresh look at the golf course issue because the downward trend must and will be reversed.  Whether that means sustaining the current approach under new leadership at the parks office and golf courses, whether it means taking a completely new management arrangement regarding the golf courses, or even doing something else with the property, we need to carefully fact find and turn this situation around.