General manager at
Shiloh Springs
resigns positions
by Ivan
Foley
Landmark editor
This wasn't the start the county commission
was seeking.
In the first year the commission has had
control of the day-to-day operations of the county-financed
Shiloh Springs Golf Course east of Platte City, Mike
Marshall, general manager, has resigned.
Steve Wegner, county commissioner, said
the resignation came as somewhat of a surprise. He said
he doesn't know what Marshall intends to do, saying
he hasn't spoken with him since the resignation was
submitted last week. The resignation was effective immediately.
Wegner declined to comment on the reasons behind the
resignation. "I can't comment on that. . .it's
a personnel issue," he said.
"Mike has resigned and we are in
the process of trying to find a suitable replacement.
We have appointed an interim general manager,"
Wegner said.
Attempts by The Landmark to reach Marshall
for comment were unsuccessful.
Jerry Smith, who had worked as pro shop
manager at the course, is the interim general manager.
Shiloh is working with a couple of area golf courses
looking for advice and certification assistance on how
to properly maintain the grounds in Marshall's absence.
At the time of his hiring, Marshall had been widely
praised by the commission for his ability to maintain
the golf course grounds. Marshall had worked for the
management company that ran the course prior to the
county taking over the day-to-day operations this year.
"He (Marshall) was extremely adept
at the superintendent duties. When he agreed to become
general manager, we kind of got a 2 for 1 deal,"
Wegner said.
"We want to hire a new general manager
and let him dictate his recommendation on the superintendent's
position. It might be that we find a 2 for 1, a person
that has working knowledge of the grounds that would
also like to be general manager," Wegner remarked.
He added that a job description is being formulated
and will be distributed to the appropriate places to
find a suitable replacement.
Though there's a personnel opening now,
Wegner says overall the financial picture of the controversial
taxpayer-funded golf course is improving.
"I think the mandate coming from
the county commission office was to reduce expenses
and try to increase revenues, and that is happening.
The financial forecast for the course looks far better
than it ever has."
Prior to this year, the county had a management
company under contract to run the course. This year
it was brought under the control of the county parks
department/county commission, with some funds from the
county's half cent park sales tax going to help operate
the course.
"What we have now is an opportunity
to make actual manag
