A majority of Sumner residents who returned a survey about the future of the city’s golf course said they don’t use it and want the city to pursue selling it.
Sumner Meadows Golf Links sits on the city’s north end. The 18-hole course opened about 17 years ago and doesn’t generate enough money to cover the debt incurred for the land and construction.
The city has been subsidizing it but can’t afford to keep doing so, city officials have said.
The City Council is mulling whether to keep it or sell.
Here’s a snapshot of survey results, according to the city:
• A total of 357 surveys were returned. (They were mailed out, inserted in copies of city newsletters.)
• Of the respondents, all but 10 identified themselves as Sumner residents, and 292 – nearly 82 percent – said they don’t use the course.
• A total of 278 respondents, or 79 percent, said they want the city to pursue selling the course to get out of debt, even if it means the land might be developed.
The other option presented on the survey was to keep the course with the possibility that taxes might go up to pay for it.
• Of those who wanted to keep it, most said their reason was the open space. A majority of those who said they wanted to sell listed their prime reason as not wanting higher taxes.
More information on the golf course is on the city’s website, www.ci.sumner.wa.us.
sara.schilling @thenewstribune.com
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.