The Naperville Park District will hire a consultant firm to help develop master improvement plans for Naperbrook and Springbrook golf courses.
In a rare split decision Thursday evening, park board commissioners voted 4-3 in favor of using Martin Design Partnership, of Batavia, for the work.
Board President Mike Reilly and board members Rich Janor, Mike King and Marie Todd voted in favor of the proposal, the cost of which is not to exceed $40,500, and members Bobby Carlson, Bill Eagan and Jim Ensign voted against it.
According to board documents, park district staff recommended the review include analysis of existing golf course conditions, establishing improvement goals and formulating achievement strategies.
Eagan said he believed bringing in outside experts was not necessary.
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“My basic feeling is that our staff already has the expertise to do a lot of that,” he said. “The consultant fee is something that we could be using to offset potential fee increases that may have to come as a result of a property tax freeze. You’d have to check the record, but that’s the first 4-3 vote since I’ve been here.”
State lawmakers are considering legislation that would freeze local government property taxes for the next two years in several Illinois counties, including DuPage.
According to its company website, Martin Design is a firm that analyzes golf course features and site issues, such as irrigation, drainage, tree cover strategy, aesthetics and playability.
Under the terms of deal with the park district, the company will collect data and hold public meetings in order to produce master improvement plans for both golf courses.
Martin Design is expected to begin working immediately, with a goal of being finished by late next summer.
Gary Gibula is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.