County Seeks a Public-Private Partnerships for Putnam National, Hill Agor
With maintenance needed on the aging property, county officials are exploring new public-private partnerships for running Putnam National Golf Club in Mahopac. Putnam’s only county-owned golf course was the main subject of discussion during the legislature’s Physical Service Committee meeting held last Monday.
The County published a request for proposal (RFP) that sought ideas on five different business opportunities that could be operated through the Putnam National Golf Course property and the adjacent Hill Agor property.
The business opportunities covered by in the RFP included the management of the 18-hole golf course and clubhouse; running a restaurant and catering facility capable of accommodating up to 250 people; developing a business at the historic Hill Agor farmhouse and its parcel of farmland located adjacent to the golf course; and utilizing the 70 additional acres of under-utilized land adjacent to the golf course.
People who submitted proposals were allowed to suggest taking on the entire project or picking aspects of the RFP they were interested in like an a la carte menu.
Deputy County Executive Bruce Walker said during a presentation at the meeting, that ten people have approached Putnam County regarding taking over the day-to-day operation of the golf club.
Walker described the submitted proposals as a “mixed bag.”
The county is allowed to select a single contract award or may elect to make multiple contract awards.
In the case that no suitable RFP is awarded, Walker said the county would then be in charge of handling the club, which it was purchased in 2003 to prevent the construction of a 200-plus unit townhouse development on 375 acres of land.
Ideally the organization would be brought in before the start of the golf season.
The contract with the New Jersey-based RDC Golf Group, which managed the club on behalf of the county, expired on Dec. 31 and no new plan has been put in place.
Legislator Sam Oliverio Jr, who represents district 2, said he certainly rather have a private entity run parts or all of Putnam National Golf Club.
“The county running the golf club is the least desirable occurrence,” Oliverio said.
On top of the work of finding a quality proposal, Walker also said the maintenance is needed throughout the club.
Drainage on the course must be improved, and the parking lot has to be repaved, Walker said. Additionally, leaks in the banquet room also have to be fixed and renovations are needed to the kitchen.
Machinery like lawnmowers, the fertilizer spreaders and the watering system also must be updated.
Oliverio said during and after the meeting that he supports what County Executive MaryEllen Odell is putting in front of the legislatures and knows the repairs are much needed.
“The bonding that we are going to be doing is already integrated into the two-percent tax cap,” Oliverio said. “It won’t increase our tax cap so it makes all the sense in the world and I fully support it.”
Not only was Oliverio receptive to the plan offered by Walker during the meeting, he was pleased at the open communication before the county embarked on the changes.
In the past year, Oliverio said that hasn’t always been the case.
“The county executive and the deputy county executive actually presented us with some proposals, some plans before actually doing it and then telling us what we are doing,” Oliverio said. “That hasn’t been the case in the past year or so; the legislature would find out after the fact.”
