Citizens Press County on Golf Course Default

Will the golf course get another mulligan? Previously, the county said it would send Whitepath Golf Club Operator Mark Reese a default notice for delinquency on his lease payments, but never did. During the Gilmer County board of commissioners’ meeting last Thursday, Citizen Lonnie Fowler pressed the board on the status of the operator’s lease payment for the last two months. Reese is two months behind on the payments. In his conversation with Fowler at the meeting, Commission Chair J.C. Sanford said Reese brought two checks to the county. However, Sanford said the checks were in the old amount, $7,500 each, where they should’ve been for an amount over $9,000. The checks were rejected, the chairman said, because they were partial payments. “What’s going to be done about it?” Fowler wanted to know.

“That’s a question I can’t answer right now,”

Sanford said, adding that he had a meeting scheduled with the operator the following day, last Friday, and would have to follow the process outlined in the lease to pursue the funds.

Later in the meeting, Sanford and the board were further pressured on the issue, when Citizen Joene DePlancke asked if the county has sent the notice of default to the operator. The chairman said it has not been sent yet.

“Depending on what the outcome is tomorrow,”

Sanford said,

“The action will start Monday.”

FYN sent an email this morning to County Attorney David Clark to confirm this and learn the next steps in the process. Mr. Clark has yet to respond to the request.

In her comments, DePlancke asked what the county will do if the operator leaves with out paying, suggesting putting a lien on the equipment at the facility to secure payment on the debt. Sanford and the board did not comment on the use of the lien.

“If he unlawfully removes it (the equipment),”

Clark said,

“He’ll not only be subjected to civil prosecution, but to criminal prosecution.”