Oakland County ran the course as part of its parks system. Starting in 2000, the course has been closed for the installation of a large, $144-million storm water drain system under the course.
The county leases 16 acres of land, which includes just more than three holes of the course, from SOCRRA. The land is adjacent to a 20-acre SOCRRA owned incinerator and transfer station.
Because the 20-year, $7,000 per year lease will be up in June, the county decided to try to buy the land for $319,000, partly because of disputes it has with the authority to install the drain on the land.
However, the authority refuses to sell. Both sides are now deadlocked. SOCRRA is suing the county in circuit court to keep the drain installers off the property.
Recently, the county upped the ante by claiming it will close the course for good, and just leave the course vacant, if the authority does not sell the land. The authority board, made up of delegated members of the 12 communities, doesn't want this to happen. The course is one of the only two county parks in the southeast corner of the county.
Jon Austin, city manager of Madison Heights, doesn't want the course to close either. The city left the authority years ago, supposedly angry over management and decisions to place incinerators in the city. Now, Austin says he wants to work with his former adversaries.
"We've gone on record, with the county parks board and the drain board, that we are in line with SOCRRA. We want to see that course remain," Austin tells GlobeSt.com.
The county recently rejected a second lease offer from the authority. The SOCRRA board will meet in executive session May 16 at 9:30 a.m. in Pleasant Ridge to discuss their options with an attorney.
Tom Waffen, the authority manager, says it would be a shame to shut down the course. He says the authority can't sell the land because it carries liability due to the buried landfill.
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