Wastewater fees might take swing at golf courses

Golf courses say a proposed city fee for treated sewage water would hurt business and make them less competitive with surrounding courses.

Two of the city's three golf courses would eventually pay almost $90,000 under the public works plan. The courses use the water for their grass.

Public works representatives have proposed the fees in response to the city board of supervisors' request to give a report each year on rates.

The plan calls for golf course fees to be raised over three years to the following annual rates: Eagle Valley, about $90,000; Empire Ranch, about $85,000; and Silver Oaks, about $51,000.

The city adopted a fee for treated sewage, or "reclaimed," water in 1996 but never enforced it because of negotiations with users.

Public works representatives will meet with the golf courses this week to talk about the fees. The department will give a final proposal to city supervisors Feb. 7.

This is a bad time to introduce new fees, said Empire Ranch General Manager Keith Stoll, because the golf course is struggling to compete with other Northern Nevada courses. The clubs "keep splitting the pie" and Empire Ranch would lose more if it had to cut services or increase prices.

"We're certainly going to fight (the fees) as hard as we can," he said.

Eagle Valley Golf Course might also have to raise prices, said General Manager Jim Kepler, and the course will try to convince the public works department not to raise rates.

The club is a nonprofit and runs the golf course on city-owned land.

Tom Unruh, general manager of Silver Oak Golf Course, said his course won't raise prices if it wants to stay competitive, so it would have to cut services. The city probably won't charge the fees, though, he said, so he's not worried about it.

As part of the overall plan, the public works department also has proposed minor increases in sewer, water, storm water and general water fees. The largest is the sewer increase, which will cause rates for the average residential user to go up about $3 a month.

The fee increases are large, said Public Works Director Andy Burnham, so it is important for the city to meet with the courses.

The department proposed the plan only because city supervisors told them too, however, he said. Also, he has said, many other governments charge much more for the water.

Washoe County, for instance, charges more than three times the city's proposed rate.

Other groups that would have to pay for the water include the city parks department - about $12,000 a year - and the city pet cemetery, about $400 a year.

The service hikes will help pay for several upgrades at the city water treatment plant, public works representatives have said.

• Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.