When Yorkton Council took a look at where exactly a new clubhouse at Deer Park Golf Course would sit, and what scale it will be, at its Committee-of-the-Whole meeting Monday, a few interesting comments came out that weren’t exactly a factor in the decision (see A1 for that story), but are important for the community in general.
The first was debt provided by AshleyStradeski, Director of Finance with the City, who noted the City’s current debt level is only $10 million, with the water treatment plant being paid off in 2023, and the fire hall in 2025.
In terms of Saskatchewan cities Yorkton’s debt load is lower than most, and Stradeski said the position is strong.
Considering Yorkton is allowed to borrow more than $40 million by the province, the ability to take on some major projects certainly exists.
Of course there is no shortage of projects, including the already announced $17 million to be invested in reconstructing York Road over the next several years, and the Deer Park clubhouse.
The clubhouse however can draw on what was the Gallagher Centre levy, not changed to a levy to help with recreation facility projects since the Gallagher Centre payments are over.
The levy generates about $1.15 million, so if the clubhouse heads to the shovel in 2023, a good down payment will be in the bank, and the levy in place to make the payment.
Of course the clubhouse is not the only aging recreational facility needing replacement, the Kinsmen Arena an obvious priority too, but the levy and low debt load has the City in a good place to take that project on sooner than later too.
Then, also an afterthought in Monday’s discussion there was mention of the potential of condominiums, clearly in this case associated with Deer Park.
Any such development would be a major step for the City to take, but if a goal is for the City to move the course into a position of being fully self-sustaining, not having to rely annually on funds from the general tax pie to cover operational losses and course capital projects, then a condo development might well be the best solution. Certainly condos on or adjacent to golf courses are popular in other places, and given the beauty of Deer Park it would no doubt draw much interest.
There will likely be those who balk at the idea, but the current Council should be applauded for even taking a look at the possibility.
Certainly moving forward municipalities will need to be creative and innovative and bold to generate the revenues to deal with a growing list of aging infrastructure needs, and condos associated with the City-owned course is worth looking into for those reasons alone.
