Golf pro gets new contract with Galesburg
Discussion of liquor license, Merrill's extension cause procedural confusion
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
GALESBURG - The Galesburg City Council had no real disagreement Monday with extending the contract of Bunker Links golf pro Greg Merrill, but because an ordinance related to the extension was on first reading, confusion reigned for a time before the council figured out exactly what it needed to do.During its Dec. 5 meeting, the council tabled the agreement with Merrill because it waived a liquor license fee for him to sell beer and wine coolers at the city-owned course. Some aldermen objected to anyone receiving a no-cost liquor license. The city, under that arrangement, would have received 5 percent of the gross sales of alcohol.
Monday's agenda included first reading of an ordinance to amend the liquor ordinance, setting a fee of $1,500 for a license valid from March 1 through Dec. 15 of each year. The city will not, however, receive a percentage of the sales, meaning financially, the deal is basically the same as the agreement that was tabled.
After hearing the new ordinance on first reading, the council acted upon a number of other items. The actual agreement with Merrill came near the end of the agenda. It included a three-year contract extension, meaning Merrill's contract will not expire until 2010. Merrill expects to put about $30,000 of his own money into remodeling the pro shop, adding coolers and storage cabinets for the first-ever sale of alcohol at the golf course, along with chairs, tables and carpeting.
He asked for the extension to have a chance to make back his investment to make the clubhouse suitable for the sale of alcohol, something the council hopes will attract more golfers to Bunker Links. Aldermen Karen Lafferty, Ward 5, and Roland Paulsgrove, Ward 7, both spoke in favor of the contract extension, as did Mayor Gary Smith. Aldermen Bill Kendall, Ward 2, saw it differently.
"My only problem with the extension of the contract is council was (earlier) adamant about the fact he had a contract and we weren't going to do anything with the contract. I thought that was until the end of the contract," Kendall said.
At that point, Mayor Smith realized that perhaps things were out of order. Although there was already a motion and a second to approve the new contract with Merrill, Smith asked if the agreement should be tabled again until the council voted on the liquor license change.
"If this is passed, obviously it's contingent upon Merrill getting that (liquor) license," city attorney John Hanlon said. "If for some reason this would pass and the license issue would be voted down, this (agreement) would be an impossible thing."
Hanlon told the council that someone could ask for the rules to be suspended, and the council could vote on the liquor issue Monday. That was done and the council voted 7-1 to suspend the rules, then 7-1 to approve the new liquor license arrangement, with Alderman Monte Gifford, Ward 3, voting no in both instances.
Smith asked for a motion, but aldermen said there already was one on the floor.
"Do you show a motion and a second already?" Hanlon asked City Clerk Anita Carlton.
Told she did, Alderman Lomac Payton, Ward 4, wanted to know if the action the council took was legal, since it came back to the liquor license issue after going on to other business.
"It's legal as long as the chair allows it," Hanlon said.
"Do we have a motion and a second?" Smith asked again.
The vote was finally taken and Merrill's new contract, including the three-year extension, was approved 6-2, with Kendall and Gifford voting no.
