<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Has there been a decision on the sale of Mallard Cove and replacement plans?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Informer reported in 2013 that Chennault International Airport officials considered Mallard Cove Golf Course — being a source of errant balls and an attraction for wildlife — to be a hazard to people and airplanes, as well as an impediment to their expansion plans.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The column noted that they’d expressed an interest in acquiring the land, which was given to the city by the federal government, but were, at city officials’ request, looking at alternatives.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Last year, airport head Randy Robb announced that Chennault’s plans for a $257 million expansion would include construction on land occupied by the golf course. He said the project — including two rail-served warehouses, four hangars, and industrial and business parks — could generate as many 1,500 permanent jobs.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Robb said the airport would work to sign a memorandum of understanding with the city to build on Mallard Cove and replace the course with a newly built and comparable one elsewhere.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It’s a win for the whole entire community, and if it’s not, I don’t want any part of it,” Robb told the</span> <span style="font-style: italic;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">American Press</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">in July 2015. “With all the growth and everything that’s going on around here, we agree that you need a municipal course.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A report on replacing Mallard Cove last year suggested refurbishing the former Pine Shadows course or building a course somewhere in Ward 3 and rejected the idea of relying on the Frasch, National Golf Club and Gray Plantation courses to accommodate people who now use Mallard Cove.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadsubhead"><strong>Agreement signed</strong></span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Last August and October, representatives of the airport, the city of Lake Charles and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury signed the memorandum of understanding, which lists the conditions under which the city would allow Chennault to build on Mallard Cove — property that is worth, the agreement says, about $19 million.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The document says Chennault will find a city-approved locale for a replacement course, with “the preferred site to be located inside the corporate limits of the City of Lake Charles with convenient vehicular access; however, a location inside Ward 3 with convenient vehicular access will be considered.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In the memorandum, the city and Chennault agree to appoint people to a five-member committee “to assist and provide guidance in the development of the plans and specifications” for a new course, which must be “equivalent to and comparable in quality to Mallard Cove.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The agreement says the city will help provide water and sewer service and fire protection to the new course, but with the costs picked up by the airport or its tenants. Once the new course is completed, the document says, the city will amend Chennault’s lease to include Mallard Cove, clearing the way for development of the land.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The agreement gives Chennault “the sole and exclusive right and privilege to proceed with replacement of Mallard Cove for a period of five (5) years.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In January, the Chennault International Airport Authority approved a resolution to apply for $7 million in state bond money to help it replace Mallard Cove. Robb said at the time that the golf course committee had rejected the idea of revamping Pine Shadows but was looking at building a course somewhere in Ward 3.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadsubhead"><strong>Fruitless search</strong></span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">According to a letter City Administrator John Cardone recently sent to Robb, attorney Jay Delafield earlier this summer called Mayor Randy Roach on the airport authority’s behalf to say the search had proved fruitless and to talk about the memorandum of understanding.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It is my understanding that Chennault has determined that despite its best efforts it does not appear that there is a suitable option for relocating the golf course as provided for in the MOU,” Cardone writes in the letter, dated June 21.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It is also my understanding that the purpose of Mr. Delafield’s call was to determine what the next steps should be to address the Authority’s interest in the golf course property.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In his letter, Cardone outlines Chennault’s plans for the course, reiterates how the city arrived at its estimated value of Mallard Cove, and notes that both the city and the airport authority agreed that it would be cheaper to replace the golf course.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“I respectively request that the Authority formally advise the City in writing that it is not feasible for Chennault to replace the golf course as provided for in the MOU,” Cardone writes. “Once Chennault has formally notified the City we will advise the City Council of your position to cancel the provisions set forth in the existing MOU.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadsubhead"><strong>Waco, Westlake</strong></span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In response, Robb sent a letter to Cardone last month that begins by noting how Mallard Cove’s presence endangers operations at the airport and hinders development and says that airport officials still plan to build on the course.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He says Chennault continues to look into relocating Mallard Cove and is working with the area’s congressional representatives to see if federal funding is available to help finance a new course. But he expresses doubt about the need for another golf course.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We were informed by a member, appointed to the golf course relocation committee by the City of Lake Charles, that the City of Waco, which is roughly twice the size of Lake Charles, supports only one golf course,” Robb writes in his letter, dated July 26.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Southwest Louisiana, on the other hand, sustains a minimum of six golf courses. The committee, further, recommended that we explore options that would not create another golf course in our Parish.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A Google search and a check of TravelTexas.com turn up several golf courses in and around Waco — population: 129,030; area: 95 square miles — including Lake Waco, Twin Rivers, Cottonwood Creek and James Connally. Additionally, “Southwest Louisiana” generally refers to the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In his letter, Robb says that “the best option for the future” is to help the city of Westlake, which is in Ward 4, make its National Golf Club “a viable option for our regional, public golf course.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He lists several factors he said officials considered in reaching that conclusion:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Promotes regionalization.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Serves the industry revitalization in the surrounding area.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“National Golf Course meets the ‘equal to or better’ requirement.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Permits economic development of the Mallard Cove property; creates jobs and enlarges the tax base.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Assists Chennault with the goal of becoming self-sufficient — not relying on tax dollars to operate.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Frees the City of Lake Charles from the necessity to subsidize the play of a very small fraction of the population.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Doesn’t further dilute the play at other area golf courses.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Is close — quicker to get there from South Lake Charles than to Mallard Cove.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Chennault would finance a clubhouse at the National Course and assist in the keeping the cost of play at below market rates for a number of years.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In closing his letter, Robb says airport officials aren’t asking to cancel the agreement but “request the opportunity to open dialogue with the City of Lake Charles on the possible options that exist in the current golfing marketplace.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Robb said Friday that the information airport officials received on the number of golf courses in Waco was incorrect. He said the authority is awaiting the city’s response to his letter.</span>

<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="R~sep~AZaphdingbatdot7pt">—</span>

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