Village Decides Against RFP for Independent Village Greens Consultant

A room full of Woodridge residents received a pleasant surprise Thursday night. They had packed the board room of the Village Hall with two goals in mind—voice their objections against any board action to approve a request for proposal for an independent consultant to determine potential land uses for the Village Greens of Woodridge and convince the village board to keep the Village Greens as it is—an 18-hole golf course.

Turns out, they didn't have to.

"Many audience members here this evening are interested in learning about the next steps regarding the Village Greens Golf Course. Many are under the impression the village board will be taking action regarding an RFP this evening," said Village Administrator Kathleen Rush as the conversation about the golf course began. "The board will not be taking any action to issue an RFP."

Rush told audience members that the village had met with members of the Woodridge Park District this week and had come up with another proposal:

1) The Woodridge Park District and golf staff would prepare a five-year financial plan. The plan would reflect the capital and operational needs to maintain the Village Greens as a mid-range competitive golf course, and the revenue stream to complement those needs.

2) The Park District would consider entering into a long-term lease with the Village Greens. The Woodridge Park District also would issue all debt and be responsible for any financial losses or gains of the golf course.

"Representatives of the Keep the Village Green [Committee] have asked to be part of this public conversation, and the village looks forward to working with the park district and Keep the Village Green on their long-range plan to maintain the golf course and also provides for the capital needs of the various improvements," said Rush.

After the proposal was read, the mayor gave each person in the room the opportunity to voice their opinions on it. One by one, attendees stepped up to the podium to thank the board for the proposal.

Because the matter was not on the agenda, the board was unable to vote on the proposal Thursday night. The mayor, however, asked each trustee to say whether they agreed with the proposal, and each trustee expressed that they were in favor of it.