On October 12, 2021, the Seminole County BCC gave direction to staff to move forward with the acquisition of the shuttered Deer Run Golf Course and the active Wekiva Golf Course. The Wekiva Golf Course is approximately 138 acres in western unincorporated Seminole County and lies within the Wekiva Protection Area. Deer Run is approximately 137 acres in unincorporated Seminole County situated between the cities of Casselberry and Winter Springs. The combined purchase price of the land is $13,775,000 plus closing costs, which includes a credit of $225k towards the environmental remediation at the Wekiva property estimated at $450,000 plus consultant services of $22,970.  The purchase price, estimated closing costs of $50k, and remediation are included in the BAR.

The Wekiva Golf Club will continue operations as golf course and remain open during the ownership transition. Management will be contracted and the operating budget of $1,196,134 is appropriated in a newly created enterprise fund.  Cleanup and preparation of the site is also appropriated in the enterprise fund at $138,500 for tree removal, asphalt repair, signage, etc.  There is also a $100,000 cash advance from the General Fund to the enterprise fund for operational cash flow.  The total transfer from General Fund to the enterprise fund of $7,977,269 will be recorded as an interfund loan to be paid back over time from the net income of the business.  The details of the interfund loan will be come to the Board for approval at the next available meeting. 

Deer Run will be operated as a passive park with the existing ground water consumptive use permit being transferred to Seminole County. A clean-up project budget of $150,000 for tree removal, asphalt repair and landscaping is appropriated and $7,198 for site assessment.   An operating budget of $263,145 is appropriated for maintaining the grounds and a new Project Manager II position is appropriated in Leisure Services to assist in management of the new parks with a vehicle at $127,101.