From Fletcher Mayor William Moore (I have highlighted certain sections):
October 27, 2011
Mr. J. Michael Edney, Chairman
Henderson County Board of Commissioners
1 Historic Courthouse Square, Suite 1
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Dear Chairman Edney:
I am writing to voice some concerns regarding the recent decision by the Board of Commissioners to purchase the Highland Lake Golf Course. It is our understanding that this purchase is being made in order to convert the golf course into soccer fields. It is also our understanding that the Henderson County Soccer Association (HCSA) will be an active partner in developing and utilizing the soccer fields.
Our concern over this is that the HCSA will be helping to develop and use your facility, while it currently has a lease with the Town of Fletcher to do essentially the same thing. Two years ago, the HCSA negotiated a 50 year lease with the Town to use over 48 acres of property near the ArvinMeritor plant on Rockwell Road. Per the terms of this lease, HCSA was to officially take possession of the property by May 1, 2011.
Our other concern is that the County will be expending over a million dollars in funding to purchase and develop a park when the HCSA had a known location where it could utilize public land for a similar purpose at a significantly lesser cost. Per the terms of our lease with the HCSA, they would be making lease payments to the Town two years after taking possession of the property. The lease payments would initially be $10,000 a year.
Our point in voicing these concerns is to make sure you were aware of the current arrangement that the Town had with the Henderson County Soccer Association. It is not our intention to dictate where the Board of Commissioners invests resources for public services. We understand how challenging that process is. We do, however, feel that this situation merits better understanding of what has happened and possibly further public discussion.
If you would like to discuss this issue further, I would be more than happy to meet with you.
Sincerely,
William B. Moore, Mayor
WBM/meb
Cc: Fletcher Town Council
Why is Henderson County trying sneak this soccer deal through when they already have an agreement to put soccer fields on public land in Fletcher?? Something fishy is going on---who is ultimately benefiting from, this??? The sensible solution. is for the Village of Flat Rock to buy the property for walking trails, and to keep the driving range!!
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