The Western Course at Tiger Point Golf Club Wednesday, August 12, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

The public will have a chance to weigh in at a meeting between officials with Santa Rosa County and the City of Gulf Breeze concerning the derelict Tiger Point Golf Club western course on Thursday.

The meeting is set for 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Tiger Point Community Center, 1370 Tiger Point Lane, Gulf Breeze.

The public was not allowed to attend a meeting on July 14 concerning the course due to confusion on the part of the city officials, but both County Commissioner Lane Lynchard and City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy say this meeting will be open — and include time for public comment.

The Western Course at Tiger Point Golf Club Wednesday, August 12, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

Lynchard, County Administrator Hunter Walker and County Attorney Roy Andrews are expected to represent the county at Thursday’s meeting. Eddy, Gulf Breeze Mayor Matt Dannheisser, and some members of the Gulf Breeze City Council are expected to be there for the city. Both Lychard and Dannheisser are also attorneys.

At issue is the condition of the golf course.

The city purchased Tiger Point Golf Club in 2012 with the intention of using the club as a disposal site for effluent – treated wastewater leaving the city-owned South Santa Rosa Utilities sewage plant. Golf courses are commonly used for effluent disposal.

Santa Rosa County issued a conditional use permit for the effluent disposal – contingent on the courses being repaired from hurricane damage and restored to use. However, the western course has not been restored, and residents in the area – which is outside of the city limits – are concerned.

“The simple truth is that the city bought the golf course in 2012, made commitments to the residents and the county, and has failed to follow through on those commitments,” Lynchard said.

The Western Course at Tiger Point Golf Club Wednesday, August 12, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

“The only role the county has in the matter is to try to facilitate some resolution to this difficult situation. It is not the role of the county to make decisions for the city regarding this property or dictate how the city finances its obligations, but to try to encourage a resolution for the residents. “

Eddy said the city believed, at the time, that the western course could be rehabbed for $2 million and then operated at break-even or possibly a small profit, but has since discovered that was not so.

“We have learned … the cost of rebuilding the west would be about $4 million and cost about $300,000 to $400,000 per year in cost over revenue to operate,” Eddy said.

“We decided to make the east course the best it can be and build up the numbers of annual rounds there before we consider adding to the financial burden the (utility) customers would have to bear by spending $4 million to rebuild the west.”

Neither Lynchard nor Eddy would speculate as to what a solution might be.

“That will depend on what the residents in the area expect and what the city is willing to do,” Lynchard said.

The Western Course at Tiger Point Golf Club Wednesday, August 12, 2015. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Studer Community Institute)

Eddy said there may be other needs in the community that the golf course property could meet – but it won’t be something the city is willing to pay for on its own.

“We are maintaining the west course property,” Eddy said. “It is quite an asset to the area rather than having the property grow wild as it would have under receivership. If there are to be improvements, then the people who benefit, not just our utility customers, should help pay for the improvements.”