From the Mason City, Iowa Globe Gazette:

“The city is the right next owner of that golf course,” said Councilman Shane Cooney.

The city was approached by the All-Vets board with a proposal to take over the property at 2000 North Shore Drive after a similar request was turned down by the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

The All Vets board wants to disband and transfer ownership because of financial difficulties.

The order of succession was spelled out in the All-Vets bylaws. The course was dedicated and turned over to Clear Lake’s  war veterans on June 6, 1946.

Councilman Mike Callanan expressed concern about the proposal but then voted in favor of taking ownership of the course.

“It’s kind of a bailout and I have a lot of mixed feelings about that,” Callanan said. “None of us at this table went out looking for a golf course.”

Councilman Tony Nelson, who said he wasn’t a golfer, shared some concerns but also voted in favor of the plan.

“I was elected to listen to my constitutents and I’ve heard very few comments against it,” Nelson said.

Many decisions remain as the city’s legal counsel pours over the property abstract to see what liens if any there are against the property.

City Administrator Scott Flory said the next step will involve negotiations with the current owners about the approximately $210,000 in outstanding debts, including delinquent taxes.

“We still have to work out an agreement about the assumption of liabilities. I am sure the headlines will be that we take ownership of the course but there’s a mighty big asterisk beside that,” Flory said.

The property has an assessed value of $527,000, according to All-Vets treasurer Russell Mott.

The city hopes to get the course open by April 1.

The city will not run the course. The course will be leased to an operator who will run it.

Tom Lovell of Clear Lake approached the

City Council during Monday night’s public hearing on behalf of a foundation established by a group of  Clear Lake residents seeking to run the golf course.

Its proposal would  involve the establishment  of a non-profit foundation similar to the non-profit organization which runs the Surf Ballroom.

The council was also approached by a representative of the Landau Golf Corp. from Clear Lake offering to run the course for the city.

A decision on the course operator will be made at a later date.