By Dani Gruber, special to Mountain Valley News
City of Delta Finance Director Tod DeZeeuw had good news on the economic front but not-so-good news on the golf front. DeZeeuw presented his report at the Delta City Council meeting held May 18, 2010.
“Sales taxes are exactly where we budgeted at 33.33 percent,” said DeZeeuw. “We haven't fallen down any,” he said. Additionally, the utility funds are where they should be. DeZeeuw charts the economic growth for Delta from year to year and sees trends early. The fear in the minds of audience and council members is signs of economic stagnation, or decreases. According to DeZeeuw, Delta budgeted appropriately for this year.
A common public concern is that Delta County will not feel the results of economic pressure as quickly as coastal areas, but that once the effects begin to be felt, it will take longer for Delta County to recover. At past meetings, DeZeeuw has given figures that indicate Delta has suffered from loss of construction projects and a general slowing, but that Delta's finances are sitting much better than neighboring Mesa and Montrose counties.
The news on Devil's Thumb Golf Course was not so heartening. Apologizing that Golf Course Professional Rob Sanders was not there, DeZeeuw said that Sanders had reported that, in years past, the course was closed for 10 days due to snow. “This year, we were closed 90 (days),” said DeZeeuw. Revenue is down, but the busy season has started slowly again with golf action getting underway.
“It was closed all of January and February and most of March because of the weather,” said Councilman Robert Jurca. “I play golf and have been trying to play all I can, but it has been difficult. Even up to this point, even if it looks like a nice day, we've got 60-mile-an-hour winds. It's been difficult because the weather has been terrible,” he said.
Last week, however, Jurca reported that the course was packed. “I went out Monday around noon and I couldn't get on. The course was packed. Usually, I go out there at noon or 1 p.m. and the crowds have died down. Everyone else plays in the morning when it's cooler. I waited until 1 p.m., and it was a steady stream of people teeing off. When the weather is good, it's busy,” said Jurca, adding that this is the time of year when the revenues come up.
