The Richmond village board met at its regularly scheduled meeting on December 1, 2004.

President Kevin Brusek announced that an offer was made through attorney Nathanial Grey on the golf course property in the amount of $2.5 million. Brusek presented drawings of the proposed development. This plan includes an 80 room hotel, a clubhouse,  a banquet hall with a capacity of 600 people, a restaurant along Rt 173, a 9 hole golf course, and 105 town homes. A few ponds would also be included..

Brusek asked for comments from the trustees. Bruce Hunter said “It looks like an interesting concept.” Roy Wulffen said, “I don’t know how many town homes would be appropriate for that area.” Dan Deters said, “I like the idea about the income this could produce for the village.” Dave Kielpinski said, “I just don’t know yet.”

Brusek said he would send a message to the buyer telling him that the board needs more time to consider the proposal.

Brusek said that he met with two golf course architects earlier to discuss the possibility of the village owning the course and renovation costs. The architects said it would cost the village $6,000,000 including a new clubhouse. However, a renovated course would have to include resituating the current 18^th hole along Rt 173 to allow for a setback of about 100’. The architects also said that the current layout would have to be changed as people are in danger of being hit by golf balls on the course right now. The architects recommended keeping only a 9 hole golf course. Brusek said an alternative could be to obtain more land from the hunt club but Brusek said that the owner would not be willing to sell only 80 acres.

In other business, Brusek asked the board to approve drug testing for anyone who drives a vehicle for the village. This was approved.

A long discussion ensued about getting the right company to maintain the village website. According to Brusek Richmond Printing is on month-to-month contract with the village to handle this job. A suggestion was made that the village buy additional software and have an employee of the village handle the job. “We simply don’t have the time to maintain the site ourselves,” said Brusek.

Wes Lemons said that the new water lines on Liberty St. will be completed in two weeks.

Trustee Charles Schultz questioned Lemons about when the village decides to plow the streets. Lemons said it was in everybody’s best interest to wait until at least two inches of snow fall before using the plows.