Jackrabbit Golf Course Needs Upgrades - KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings

Jackrabbit Golf Course Needs Upgrades

By Annie Andrews  aandrews@nebraska.tv

Facebook / Twitter @NTVAnnieAndrews

Grand Island City Council heard a $470,000 bid for a new sprinkler system at the Jackrabbit golf course.

The 30 year-old system is beyond repair and needs to be fixed in order to keep the course running say officials.  The focus for Tuesday night's study session agenda item focused on knowing the city-owned golf course needs to be fixed, but not sure what avenue to pursue for funding.

Last season, the course sold more than 30,000 rounds of golf. It's getting used, said the resident golf pro Don Kruse, refuting the notion that the city should consider the option to sell the property made by council president Peg Gilbert.

The other three options presented to council include a 20-year loan that would cost the city
just under $35,000 a year. That was propositioned by one council member with a possible source of funding coming from patrons by raising the cost of a round by one dollar. The city could bond the course upgrade or perhaps even absorb the cost into the parks budget.

Although the golf course did not produce an income from 2003 to 2007, the city has made money since including $48,000 in revenue last year.