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City has history of making bad deals
To the editor:
The Blytheville Courier News article "First tee calls it quits" is no surprise.
However, if this individual isn't mistaken, the city of Blytheville rented the old air base golf course to First Tee for $1 per year. This appeared to violate article 12 section 5 of the state constitution and also indicated that the city had too many golf courses to support. It was reported by the publisher of the Blytheville Courier newspaper that the new golf course had lost approximately $200,000 per year for the past 10 years. That equates to approximately $2 million that the citizens of Blytheville, including approximately 35 percent that are living in poverty, had to pay in addition to losing the income from approximately 30 acres of land for 10 years.
The city owned and operated two very nice and well-kept golf courses, which showed a profit each year. One of the golf courses had to close due to lack of participation. Then the lack of city planning took over.
Take a look at these kinds of deals that the city is entering into without any plans or facts. Isn't it about time that the city establish a long-range plan and follow that plan in accordance with the laws of the state? Give this wonderful city the chance of surviving and not have to follow the footsteps of Detroit.