By Steve Sharp
steves@wdtimes.com
JEFFERSON — With permission granted from Jefferson County zoning officials and finally, the county board of supervisors Tuesday evening, a Watertown man may proceed with his plans for creating a “golf farm” in the town of Watertown.
The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors met in regular session for June Tuesday at the county courthouse and approved a rezoning request from Ronald C. Maas that will change 16.6 acres from Agricultural A-1 to A-2 and 1.69 acres from A-3 to A-2. The site in question is located on County Highway D and the rezonings are contingent upon road access approval, as well as receipt and recording of a final certified map for the zone, including an extraterritorial plat if necessary.
“If I get approved, the golf course is going to be a ‘go,’ Maas told the Daily Times before the meeting.
In discussing the project, Maas said the course will be located on Highway D south of Watertown a little more than a mile off of County Highway E. Maas said buildings at the site have been completed and there is a clubhouse and other facilities.
“There is grass seed there that I have been planting for years,” he said. “I did some experimental testing on seeds and grass. I planted some of the greens already.”
Maas said he got the idea for what he is calling his “golf farm” a few years ago.
“I have a cottage near Red Granite and on the other side of Wautoma they have what they call a ‘golf farm,’” he said. “About 10 years ago, I golfed there and they have no fairways, just tees and greens, and over the years they planted fairways and they have pretty good greens. It’s self service.”
Maas said he was impressed to learn this golf farm to the north played host to at least 1,000 people last year and they have been in business successfully for 11 years.
“We will be self-service at a dollar-a-hole,” Maas said. “There will be a box there and it’s an honor system. Golfers are pretty honest. I’ve got three golf carts and golf clubs that have been donated. I have all the supplies.”
Maas said the process of getting the golf course to become a reality has been arduous. He said getting his conditional use permitting in place has been a “major process.” He said the certified survey cost him $4,000.
And there are all the other hearings with the town board, zoning. Nobody has talked against me and I have met all the requirements I am aware of,” he said. “All I have to do is put up a privacy fence for a neighbor. We will be operational in no time — maybe late June.”
Maas inherited the property on which the course will be located from his parents. They bought it in 1941. It has been a farm for decades.
“My father willed it to me and my brothers, and it totals 60 acres,” he said. “The golf course will be on my 20-acre parcel. I am still farming it, so that is why I need the zoning change and conditional use permit.”
In other business, the board received a comprehensive annual financial and audit report from Sikich LLP. A representative from the firm said the county is in the “best financial state possible.” He also said that, in conducting the audit, Sikich did not have any disagreements with management and there were no contentious issues. He said there were no significant deficiencies found and, “The audit went very well.”
Among annual reports was one provided by Jeff De La Rosa of People Against Domestic Abuse. He said people experiencing domestic problems are free to call PADA anytime of day or night, seven days a week and they will get a live operator. PADA receives funding from Jefferson County, hence the need for an annual report from its representative.
“We are the primary organization that serves Jefferson County in this particular sphere,” De La Rosa said.
The county also sold its former satellite shops at Ixonia and Lake Mills Tuesday night. The Ixonia site was purchased by high-bidder Jason Hughes for Hughes Reynolds Group LLC for $150,100. The Lake Mills site was purchased by its highest bidder, Chandler White, for $140,000.
To close the meeting, the board approved a proclamation read by Supervisor Lloyd Zastrow declaring June as Dairy Month.