Questions about golf association

The Janesville City Council granted Wendy Rykhus, landlord of apartments on 220 N. Main Street, an opportunity to reapply for her rental license after they revoked it for her not complying with the city ordinance to perform background checks on two of her tenants at their Monday, November 14 meeting. The motion passed 2-1; council members Andy Ahlman and Melissa Kopachek were not present.

Rykhus explained that she didn’t take action right away on complying with city ordinances because she thought the envelopes she received from the city were her utility bill statements. “I usually do everything online,” she said. “Had I known those were letters from the city about this issue, I would have complied right away.”

She added that as soon as she realized that one of her tenant shad no undergonet the background check, she took care of the matter and submitted the necessary paperwork to the city. “One of the two tenants that was a concern to the city already completed a background check. All other issues were taken care of.”

Administrative assistant Sara Britton confirmed that Rykhus had done everything she needed to be compliant with the city ordinance on background checks. “I just need to know that those two tenants that did their background checks are the only ones living there,” she said.

Rykhus said that as far as she knows, they are.

Council member John Sprengeler suggested that the city should allow her to reapply and follow City Attorney Jason Moran’s suggestion. Moran suggested in his memo to the city that she should pay a $1,000 administration fee along with her reapplication and be placed on one year of probation. Moran added that any failure to comply with paying utilities or following city ordinances within the probation period would be “grounds for revocation.”

Council member Jim Mulcahey seconded Sprengeler’s motion. “I’d be willing to give her a second chance.”

Mayor Andy Arnoldt didn’t agree. “I have a hard time circling back to these items all the time,” he admitted. “I’m not sure anything’s changed in the past two weeks.”

Scott Allen of Prairie Ridge Golf Course answered a few questions from council members and the public. Ron Bruegger addressed the council about the Janesville Area Golf Association, a group that manages money received from the city and also from profits made at the golf course.

“JAGA should not be getting any of the extra money that the golf course has made,” he suggested. “That money should stay with the city. With a double-digit tax increase possible next year, I don’t want any money going to that group. I think the council needs to take serious consideration of how the money will be used.”

Mayor Arnoldt agreed. “I do have a few questions about that,” he said.

A major item of conversation at the meeting was the golf course’s replacement of old golf carts. Allen explained that the course leased most of its carts while gradually purchasing newer ones. The goal, on schedule to be met next year, is to lease 16 carts while owning 8. “We tried finding a happy medium of owning and leasing so we could get the lease payment down while not paying too much for golf carts.”

He addressed the concerns with JAGA, elaborating that back in 2011, the council suggested that the money earned from selling the carts could be managed by the group. “All in all, the money is still going through the golf course,” he said. “But it allowed JAGA to have a couple more choices for where some of that money went.”

Arnoldt emphasized that he had no problem with how JAGA and the golf course are managing their funds. But he did say, “I’m not sure if this should be done as much through JAGA as it should through the city.”

“You’re right, Andy,” Mulcahey agreed. “I understand why things were done like this before. But to take away any semblance of impropriety, we need to be transparent and have a paper trail. It should come through the city’s books.”

Under the category of old business, Allen addressed further questions about the budget. The golf course had a record 152 members this past year, following a three-year trend of course finances being in the black. However, Allen is still taking a conservative approach with the budget.

The council approved a seventh pay estimate for the 2022 street and utility improvement project which totaled $38,472.60. The Fire Department Relief Association requested the city increase its annual benefits for retired firefighters from $2,100 a year to $2,200, which the council supported. Council members also voted unanimously to enact the city’s snow and ice control policy and procedures and approve the election results for 2022.

The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.