The city of Poway, Calif., cut the water supply to the club on September 27 for lack of payment of its water bills. The supply of raw water used to irrigate the golf course as well as its potable supply of water were switched back on later in the afternoon after a certified check for about $50,000 was brought to the city.
The water supply to the StoneRidge Country Club was shut off briefly Wednesday by the City of Poway, Calif., for lack of payment of its water bills, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The supply of raw water used to irrigate the club’s golf course as well as its potable supply of water were switched back on later in the afternoon after a certified check for about $50,000 was brought to the city, the Union-Tribune reported.
The city’s action came after the country club in northern Poway was “red tagged,” or put on notice that water service would be suspended if it didn’t pay its bills within 48 hours, the Union-Tribune reported.
Records obtained from the city via a public records act request show the club has had trouble paying its bills much of this year. On September 1, City Manager Tina White sent an email to members of the City Council: “StoneRidge was once again behind on its raw water bill,” the email began. “They asked for another extension, which was denied. After they paid, they called to say the check might bounce. As for potable water, they went right up to shut-off day and asked for a one-week extension, which was denied. As predicted, their check bounced. They must now pay with a certified check by tomorrow at noon to avoid shut off of all water. Their next bill for raw water is $45,000 and it is due by September 15. (That is one month of water).”
Those bills were paid but the latest was not, leading to Wednesday’s shut off. Bobby Heath of Western Golf Properties, which was hired late last year by golf course owner Michael Schlesinger to manage the country club, said earlier this week that the course is actually closer to being caught up on its water bill payments than it has been in recent months, the Union-Tribune reported.
When his company took over management duties, the club was between $300,000 and $400,000 in arrears, Heath said, and the bounced check was simply a clerical error, which was corrected, the Union-Tribune reported.
“If you look at that property, you have an irrigation system that is very antiquated and not efficient,” Heath said. “For a private country club to survive, it depends on dues-paying members. With the history the club has had, and maybe the uncertainty, there’s not a robust membership.”
The billing issues in some ways play into the narrative being put out by Schlesinger’s representatives that the future of the club is in grave danger should a ballot measure to be voted on by city residents in November not be approved, the Union-Tribune reported.
Measure A would rezone a part of the golf course to allow the construction of 180 luxury condominiums and a new clubhouse, while retaining a slightly scaled-down version of the golf course, the Union-Tribune reported.
A representative for Schlesinger has said should the measure fail, the club and course will be shuttered soon thereafter because so far this year, it has lost $500,000, which Heath said is mostly water and energy costs, the Union-Tribune reported.
Some members of the country club and home owners who have property along the fairways support the ballot measure, believing it is the only way the course and club can be saved. Others in the neighborhood and elsewhere in Poway say Schlesinger is not to be trusted and that his track record with the Escondido Country Club, which has been shuttered for more than four years, is proof that his only interest is making money, not the betterment of the property, the Union-Tribune reported.
Some club members also oppose the plan because it calls for the elimination of the club’s tennis courts and swimming pool, the Union-Tribune reported.
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