Providence was looking for an individual to become its next greenkeeper at the city’s municipal golf course and recreation center. Instead, they hired an LLC to oversee the facility and grounds.
The city council Monday voted to employ K & J Course Management of Slaughters. The service currently handles the same duties at Madisonville Country Club, The Bridges Golf Course of Henderson, and Arrowhead Golf Course in Cadiz.
The city will pay K & J an annual fee of $175,000. However, according to city officials the contract is month-by-month and the municipality can opt out after any month if the council deems the work unsatisfactory. The company is obligated to the city for one year from the signing of the contract.
Only one other application was submitted for the position, which has been advertised for several months. That applicant, an individual, did not meet the job qualifications because of a lack of chemical licensure. Mayor Butch Hackney said that requirement is essential to the position.
The city will continue to hire lifeguards during the summer, and will employ an individual to oversee jail trustees who provide labor at the course.
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In other business, Hackney announced a town hall concerning upcoming work to address mine subsidence in Providence.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at Providence Elementary School. State officials with the Department of Abandoned Mine Land will be on hand to answer questions and take complaints of subsidence.
Shannon Layton asked whether youth baseball and softball games would be played at Westerfield Park this summer.
Hackney confirmed the city would be partnering with Webster County Youth Baseball and Softball to host games. The organization would organize and run the games, while the city would help maintain the fields and park.
A clean-up effort has been organized by Providence Tourism for Saturday, March 18, and volunteers are being sought. If rain delays the work, it will be rescheduled for the following Saturday.