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Crowd petitions council to save Cedars Edge
by Rick DeClue · News · September 22, 2016
More than 30 people showed up at the West Branch City Council meeting Monday to talk about the Cedars Edge Golf Course – an item not even on the agenda.
During the open forum, several speakers rose to thank Jerry and Tammy Sexton for their efforts in providing a season of play on the revived course this year as Jerry pursued a development plan which would justify exercising an option to purchase the property from mother-son team Pamella and Rick Miller.
On Sept 1, the Millers did not extend a financing contingency in the agreement with the Sextons and the purchase opportunity ended, though the Sextons will operate the course into October.
Each speaker cited support for the Sextons and the need for the golf course in the city. Several also questioned or criticized the city’s support for the project.
Former mayor Mike Quinlan said Cedars Edge sold 110 memberships this summer representing 235 golfers, to go along with additional punch-card players and pay-to-play golfers.
Former resident Mark Petersen, who now lives in Tiffin, said up to nine families expressed interest in residential lots the Sextons planned for the site.
Little Lights owner Erin Morrison-Vincent, who spearheaded Monday’s turnout, initiated an online petition that received 275 signatures and 60 comments in support of the course. Respondents included residents, former residents — some who have not lived in West Branch for 20 or more years and responded from as far away as California — people from surrounding communities who enjoyed the course in the past and members of some of the West Branch High School state championship teams.
Current high school head boy’s golf coach Randy Sexton spoke of the opportunities the revitalized course provided this year, including his own golf camp which attracted players down to kindergartners “no bigger than this,” as he reached down to his knee.
Trevor Thein, a current member of the high school team speaking for six male and female teammates, told the council he believed the youth in West Branch are “willing to chip in and do whatever we can” to support the Sexton’s efforts.
Several of the recognized speakers, as well as other members of the audience, told the council that the city needed to do everything it possibly could to support Cedars Edge and the Sexton’s effort.
Realtor and former local school board member Kathy Knoop said, “let’s get over the road, we just need to grow.” She was referring to the costs of improvements to Cedar-Johnson Road requested by the Sextons as part of the overall development.
Knoop said the city needs to do whatever is necessary and that people would even be willing to pay higher taxes to make this happen.
Mayor Roger Laughlin told the group that he hopes the issue is not dead, but, “it is out of our hands, now.” He did say, however, that the 275 signatures might be enough for a referendum on the taxes.
City attorney Kevin Olson added, referring to the Millers: “There is one party that is not flexible, that’s the problem here.” He then cited past issues between the Millers and the city such as unpaid water bills and disagreement over a liquor license. The city decided not to renew the license, but the Millers appealed and the state overturned the city's decision without the golf course missing a day without permission to serve liquor. The Millers allowed that license to lapse six months later.
Council member Jordan Ellyson thanked everyone for their comments, but pointed out that they were directed at the wrong party.
“The city is willing. We have put six offers on the table. The road is done. You need to contact the owners,” she said.
When an audience member pointed out that the city wanted the Sextons to pay $100,000 of the $500,000 in road improvements, Ellyson said the city’s most recent package, worth more than $800,000 in total support, had not yet been put to a vote before the Millers withdrew the financing contingency.
“We’re not the one’s holding this up,” Ellyson said.
Pamella Miller did not respond to a request for comment as this story went to print.
Editor's note: This story was updated Oct. 6 to correct that the liquor license had been "cancelled" while the golf course operated under Pamella and Rick Miller. The Millers appealed the city's decision not to renew the license and a state board overturned the city's decision. The license was never revoked, but was allowed by the Millers to lapse six months later.
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