OVIEDO, Fla. – Oviedo leaders are set to move forward on two measures affecting the city-owned Twin Rivers Golf Club.
On Monday, council members will vote on a measure to increase funding for a financial audit, and a resolution will also be voted on to protect the 310-acre property.
Mayor Megan Sladek said a third party began looking into the company running the golf course after questions were raised about profit margins.
Expenses for the audit
“Our internal staff doesn’t know enough about golf course operations to know if we are doing things in a way that is customary or that may be padding the books,” Sladek said.
The audit examines Twin Rivers’ operational expenses and how they might compare with those of other golf courses of similar size.
The estimated cost of the forensic investigation of the accounting books was estimated to cost $20,000, but discussions with the firm behind the audit indicated final costs would be around $30,000.
After addressing the audit funding, the council will vote on a resolution to place a conservation easement over the Twin Rivers property.
“Before the restrictive covenants are in place, the city council can just change the zoning,” Sladek said. “We can change the zoning to say apartments can go here. That’s wrong.”
The restriction would not allow building on the land outside of golf-related renovations or improvements.
Sladek has supported the measure for several years and said it will protect a vital resource for the city.
“It’s a lot of land, and it is a great sponge to get water back into the river in a clean way and not into people’s houses,” Sladek said. “We need to keep this unbuilt forever.”
Council members will vote on both measures during a meeting on Monday at 6:30 p.m.