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Clark County is transferring ahead with promoting its Tri-Mountain Golf Course to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
The council was briefed on the progress of the sale at its Nov. 13 assembly. Michelle Schuster, director for inner companies, informed the council that two bids had been obtained, each submitted by means of the tribe’s Cowlitz Financial Authority.
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe submitted a bid of $3.6 million, barely greater than the minimal bid set by the county, which was based mostly on a July 2023 appraisal. The golf course lies about 2 miles south of its ilani on line casino.
The next bid of $5 million was additionally submitted by the Cowlitz, however that bid didn’t meet the sale necessities as a result of the bidder requested to terminate all the restrictions and covenants after 5 years.
Along with the course, the property features a clubhouse, workplace, two upkeep buildings, a driving vary, another small buildings, and the stock and tools. Not included are the golf carts, that are leased to the power.
One situation of the sale is that Tri-Mountain should proceed to function as a public course. Schuster stated workers are working with the county’s attorneys to create a covenant requiring “the property be maintained in its current natural state, that the property be operated and maintained as a regulation 18-hole golf course, that the use of the golf course remains fully open to the public in order to help serve the recreational needs of all Clark County citizens, and that the property’s natural features and esthetics shall be preserved.”
The county would retain possession of a 30-foot-wide right-of-way alongside Northwest 299th Avenue to permit for future highway improvement.
Clark County bought the Tri-Mountain Golf Course from the Port of Ridgefield in 1997 and leases it to an operator. The county receives income from course operations, a median of $350,000 a yr over the previous three years. Nevertheless, Schuster stated that’s not sufficient to cowl the long-term operations and upkeep prices.
“There’s $1.5 million worth of maintenance that is going to be needed to be done on the course,” Schuster stated. “There are a lot of upcoming maintenance things over the next 20 years that we’re going to have to do if we do keep this course.”
Schuster stated the covenant wouldn’t simply apply to the present purchaser but in addition any future homeowners.
“If there are any assignments or successors in interest and ownership should pass, this carries forward with it,” she stated. “We will actually put the covenant onto the actual plat when we record it.”
Councilor Glen Yung stated he was in favor of the covenant however had some questions on attainable long-term impacts.
“What happens if, in 100 years from now, golf isn’t even a sport anymore? What happens with that? … Is there a mechanism that the covenant can be released?” Yung requested.
Schuster stated it could be attainable however would require a vote by the county council to alter the allowed use.
“I checked whether or not there could be any development along the golf course, and I don’t think there could be. Around the perimeter there would be room, if the land became available, but the fairways are much too close together to allow for homes to be built,” Medvigy stated. “I realize that was a stumbling block for a lot of developers.”
County Supervisor Kathleen Otto stated as soon as the sale settlement is drafted, it would come again earlier than the council for evaluation. Whereas there received’t be a public listening to on the matter, there will likely be alternative for public remark throughout the assembly. The date of that assembly has not been decided.
One minor delay is that the county can not switch possession of the property till 2025, because of restrictions associated to federal pandemic aid funds the county obtained. Otto stated the contract might be accredited by the council earlier than the top of the yr, then executed after Jan. 1.