Like a golf ball inching closer to the hole, the date when Mendota Heights will determine the fate of the Par 3 Golf Course is fast approaching.

Residents of Mendota Heights will vote Tuesday, April 24, whether or not the city should issue bonds to purchase the 17-acre golf course for $2.79 million. It takes a majority vote to determine the outcome of the special election. There is no required number of voters.

The referendum is a 15-year bond for property tax assessments. The $2.79 million figure includes built-in capital costs for course improvement. The City Council agreed to the amount in January after negotiations with current course owners, Cashill/Spaulding Properties.

The referendum is the climax of lengthy negotiations with the course's current owners. The city fought the owners' attempt to sell the property and it led to a Minnesota Supreme Court decision in the city's favor.

The city has adjusted its Comprehensive Plan in case the referendum fails. If it does, the land could possibly be developed with up to 19 houses, and 33 percent of the land would be maintained as open space.

If it succeeds, the city will issue bonds to purchase the property, which is at 1695 Dodd Road. The city has indicated that it intends to keep it as a golf course. Current course manager, David Bergen, would assist in operating the course.

Taking opposite sides of the issue, two committees have formed to influence voters in their decision.

Bob Bonine is the chair of the Vote No Par 3 Committee. "It's a grassroots campaign and I think we're going to have a high turnout," Bonine said.

Bonine, 66, has lived in Mendota Heights since 1968. He said he was surprised by the council's decision to bring the issue to a vote. "I thought the mayor and the City Council had gotten into some bad mushrooms," Bonine said. "I was shocked to think that they would buy and operate a struggling golf course."

Bonine and other residents who oppose the referendum consider purchasing the property to be a waste of taxpayers' money. He said the land isn't worth what the city is agreeing to pay.

The city reports it would pay $2.6 million to purchase the property, with the remaining referendum money to go toward bonding and capital improvement expenses.

Bonine said that the city has no experience in running a golf course and that breaking even would be difficult. He said he is familiar with golf course economics and that it is difficult to make a profit. He said the par 3 golf course in West St. Paul lost $43,000 last year. "It's a real stuggle," he said.

Bonine said allowing the land to be developed into homes would increase the amount of property taxes to be collected- a third of which will go to School District 197.

According to the city, the Par 3 was assessed $6,488 in property taxes for 2006, payable in 2007. The city estimates that if 19 homes valued at $1 million each were developed on the property, it would mean $157,000 in property taxes annually. That amount would be split between the county, the city, and the school district.

But to Robin Ehrlich and Sally Lorberbaum, co-chairs of the Save Par 3 Committee, the Par 3 Golf Course represents an important piece of open space.

Ehrlich has lived in Mendota Heights for 19 years. He said the city is getting the property at a reduced price, so it is important to take advantage of the opportunity. "There's always limited open space available," Ehrlich said. "Once you build houses on open space it's gone forever, so we just want to protect it."

"So, it's the idea of protecting the park land and open space that Mendota Heights has," Ehrlich said. "It's a gem of a golf course."

Ehrlich said that developing the land doesn't necessarily mean that there will be more money for the city or the school district. "There's significant costs for every student," he said.

Ehrlich said the city already has a lot of parks and amenities that are not moneymakers for the city. "All of those are a total drain on city finances," Ehrlich said.

Ehrlich said that the Par 3's financial information indicate that the course won't be a burden on the city. "It shouldn't really be an expense on the city," he said.

Ehrlich said that if voters approve the city's purchase of the golf course, owning the land would be a real benefit to the community. "It protects the land forever rather than having it in private hands," he said. "The city will own it and they can forever save it."

Polls will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, and close at 8 p.m. Residents can vote in their precinct, the same location as for regular elections.

You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.

"Shall the city of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $2,790,000 to defray the expense of the acquisition and betterment of an existing par 3 golf course for use as park or other recreational facility?"

Precinct 1: Somerset Elementary School, 1355 Dodd Road

Precinct 2: Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve

Precinct 3: Mendota Elementary School, 1979 Summit Lane

Precinct 4: St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 700 Wesley Lane

Precinct 5: Friendly Hills Middle School, 701 Mendota Heights Road

Annual cost if referendum passes

House Market Value

$200,000 $29

$250,000 $36

$300,000 $43

$350,000 $50

$400,000 $57

$450,000 $64

$500,000 $72

$550,000 $79

$600,000 $86

$650,000 $93

Bonine said allowing the land to be developed into homes would increase the amount of property taxes to be collected- a third of which will go to School District 197.

According to the city, the Par 3 was assessed $6,488 in property taxes for 2006, payable in 2007. The city estimates that if 19 homes valued at $1 million each were developed on the property, it would mean $157,000 in property taxes annually. That amount would be split between the county, the city, and the school district.

But to Robin Ehrlich and Sally Lorberbaum, co-chairs of the Save Par 3 Committee, the Par 3 Golf Course represents an important piece of open space.

Ehrlich has lived in Mendota Heights for 19 years. He said the city is getting the property at a reduced price, so it is important to take advantage of the opportunity. "There's always limited open space available," Ehrlich said. "Once you build houses on open space it's gone forever, so we just want to protect it."

"So, it's the idea of protecting the park land and open space that Mendota Heights has," Ehrlich said. "It's a gem of a golf course."

Ehrlich said that developing the land doesn't necessarily mean that there will be more money for the city or the school district. "There's significant costs for every student," he said.

Ehrlich said the city already has a lot of parks and amenities that are not moneymakers for the city. "All of those are a total drain on city finances," Ehrlich said.

Ehrlich said that the Par 3's financial information indicate that the course won't be a burden on the city. "It shouldn't really be an expense on the city," he said.

Ehrlich said that if voters approve the city's purchase of the golf course, owning the land would be a real benefit to the community. "It protects the land forever rather than having it in private hands," he said. "The city will own it and they can forever save it."

Polls will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, and close at 8 p.m. Residents can vote in their precinct, the same location as for regular elections.

You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.

"Shall the city of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $2,790,000 to defray the expense of the acquisition and betterment of an existing par 3 golf course for use as park or other recreational facility?"

Precinct 1: Somerset Elementary School, 1355 Dodd Road

Precinct 2: Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve

Precinct 3: Mendota Elementary School, 1979 Summit Lane

Precinct 4: St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 700 Wesley Lane

Precinct 5: Friendly Hills Middle School, 701 Mendota Heights Road

Annual cost if referendum passes

House Market Value

$200,000 $29

$250,000 $36

$300,000 $43

$350,000 $50

$400,000 $57

$450,000 $64

$500,000 $72

$550,000 $79

$600,000 $86

$650,000 $93