After more than a year of discussion and months of consideration by a golf club subcommittee, Litchfield City Council appears to have found a suitable buyer for the city golf course clubhouse.
Details of the latest offer have not been revealed, as terms are being negotiated, with lawyers on both sides still crossing “t’s” and dotting “i’s,” but Colin and Andrea Kuechle have been identified as making the best offer. The Kuechles also own and operate Keek’s Restaurant in Watkins.
The City Council committed itself last month to fronting several necessary repairs to the century-old clubhouse, including replacing its roof and upgrading a couple of air conditioning units. These issues caused problems for previous restaurant tenants.
Golf Club Committee Chairman Greg Langmo told the council Monday that the committee considered three proposals, and the Kuechles’ offer appeared to be the most appropriate for Litchfield at this time.
The Kuechles told the council that they would try to have non-food service activities at the building, like racquetball and the pro shop, operating similarly as in the past.
“We want to take care of golfers, the community, the people on the lake and other activities at the clubhouse,” said Colin Kuechle, noting that theirs would be a 20-year commitment. “We’d love to take on this opportunity.”
Although details are still being worked out, the Kuechles’ initial offer appears to include a startup lease, followed by a purchase agreement. The city might “lease back” portions of the building needed for golf course operations. The council and city attorney Emily Wood met in closed session for more than a half hour to develop guidelines for their counter offer. Once the meeting reopened, Mayor Ron Dingmann announced that it would take about a week for the city to compose a counter offer.
“We hope we can get something put together,” Dingmann said.
The Kuechles appeared nonplussed by the delay, acknowledging that “there’s a lot of moving pieces” to their offer.
Among other business at the April 1 meeting:
- The council heard from Rep. Dean Urdahl about progress in applying for a federal historic façade grant which could be used for both exterior and interior renovations within the city’s downtown historic district. Anticipating a report soon from its grant counsel, the council set a special meeting between its Historic Preservation Council and the full council for 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 22. Urdahl also updated the council about special legislation that would allow strong beer sales at town team baseball games on school property, and on bonding for the First District Association wastewater pretreatment project.
- The council approved two proposed historic district projects: renovations (mostly to the second floor) at 202 Sibley Ave. N. and redoing a staircase at 226 Sibley Ave. N.
- Quotes have been received for equipment needed for the First District electrical upgrade. The council accepted a quote from Border States for approximately $350,500 for two pad-mounted transformers and a switchgear. First District will reimburse the city for this purchase.
- The council also authorized staff to seek bids for rehabilitating the airport terminal building (95 percent of the cost will be covered by federal and state funds) and for relocating and enlarging a sanitary sewer trunk near the civic arena.
- Mimi’s Café requested and received a wine sales license.
