Lake Forest City Council Approves Contract with Consulting Firm for Deerpath Golf Course

members Monday approved a one-year agreement with KemperSports Management Inc. for consulting services and providing an operations manager at Deerpath Golf Course.

The agreement began Dec. 6 and has an option to renew for a second and third term, with subsequent term lengths mirroring the city's fiscal year dates.

The city will pay the firm $115,000, plus an annual fee of 10 percent of gross revenues over the adjusted base revenues to be determined by the city. Mary Van Arsdale, director of , told the city council that revenues would be based on the past year, with 2011 revenues a basis for 2012.

Though she didn't have exact figures in front of her, Van Arsdale estimated that revenues for 2010 were near $600,000.

Under the agreement, the management firm provides an operations manager to oversee the golf course without the city as the employer. Fourth Ward Alderman Michael Adelman said that being able to pay someone else and not have to pay the salary, insurance and other benefits was a "great mechanism to control our expenses."

The firm also will offer consulting services on a business plan, marketing, staff training/customer service programs, and vendor procurement benefits.

The city will still establish fees, oversee course maintenance, food and beverage services, lessons, events and programs, plus personnel, and sets all rules and regulations for the property's operation.

Proposals were submitted and interviews of the two final companies were done in October.

"We went through very lengthy interviews," said First Ward Alderman Catherine Waldeck. "I think everyone in the room, when the interviews were over, we were unanimous in our choice. There was; no doubt in our mind this was the right thing to do and the right thing for us."