Politics & Government

Fate of West Pines Uncertain

Douglasville City Council members are considering a city take over of West Pines Golf Course from HMS Golf, the contractor currently running the course, because HMS is behind on their payments to the city by "several months," City Manager Bill Osborne sai

Douglasville City Council members are considering a city take over of West Pines Golf Course from HMS Golf, the contractor currently running the course, because HMS is behind on their payments to the city by "several months," City Manager Bill Osborne said.

HMS owes the city $19,058 a month, but has not been able to keep up with payments and has indicated to the city that the situation is not likely to improve over the next few months.

Osborne said the city has been able to negotiate a settlement with HMS, including many provisions. If agreed upon by council members, the city will take over all of the company's employees; equipment; inventory; cash-on-hand and computers, complete with the company's data base.

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Douglasville City Council members will discuss the future of West Pines at tonight's work session meeting and vote on the issue during the council's Monday meeting. The city could take over as early as Aug. 6.

HMS Golf invested $1 million to remodel the golf course six years ago and would forfeit that money under the terms of the settlement agreement.Β  They would also be released from their 30-year commitment to make monthly payments to the city.

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"HMS really did a good job with West Pines," Osborne said. "There have been a number of articles about the quality of the course in several golf magazines. The course has a good reputation. We will be able to get the value off of that. It's really an amiable settlement."


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