MITCHELL — A recent rate increase at the city-owned golf course sparked a conversation on what benefits city board members receive.
City of Mitchell employees and elected officials receive discounted rates at the Mitchell Recreation Center and Lakeview Golf Course. There are 10 city boards, such as the Golf and Cemetery Board, made up of volunteers appointed by the city’s mayor.
Three of these boards receive some type of benefit as members of that committee.
At the Mitchell City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 1, council member Mike Bathke requested that the consent agenda item to notify the council of a Lakeview Golf Course rate increase to be its own discussion item. Bathke had two points of contention. The first was that the Golf and Cemetery board used an executive session closed-door meeting to discuss raising rates. The second issue Bathke voiced was that golf board members receive a discount for memberships at Lakeview Golf Course.
Bathke noted the golf board’s fee structure included a 40% discount for members of the board. However, Golf and Cemetery president Jeff McEntee told the Mitchell Republic this was the same discount that city employees and council members receive.
Former Mitchell Mayor Bob Everson asked city boards to make discounts public when setting fees, according to City Administrator Stephanie Ellwein. In addition, the council has the right to change the golf board’s fees structure, according to Ellwein.
Rate increases at Lakeview Golf Course are expected to increase revenue across the board by $45,000, according to Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Nelson. The new rate structure goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026. The golf course has 93 new members in 2025 across the various membership plans, according to the November Lakeview clubhouse report, for a total of 746 members.
Bathke questioned the validity of the Golf and Cemetery board going into executive session on Monday, Nov. 11. Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson was present during that meeting, including the 1-hour and 50-minute executive session. Bathke told the council that rates were raised in executive session so that anybody who watched online couldn’t understand the board’s pricing justification.
“I don’t see the necessity of it as a publicly owned facility, and all they’re doing is setting rates,” Bathke said.
City Attorney Justin Johnson confirmed that the golf board was able to go into executive session.
“I’m not going to tell you whether they should or should not, but they have the legal ability to do so,” Johnson said.
City employees and council members also receive benefits at the golf course and recreation center.
Ellwein told the Mitchell Republic that full time benefit-eligible employees receive a wellness benefit that allows a discounted membership to park facilities and to Lakeview Golf Course. The city’s health insurance fund makes a contribution toward the Mitchell Recreation Center and to the golf course to offset the cost of paying for the discounted memberships.
City employees receive a 40% discount on Corn Palace concessions during regular working hours and Corn Palace departmental employees receive a free soda and popcorn when on shift at the Corn Palace, as do Mitchell Chamber of Commerce Corn Palace Gift Shop workers during the summer.
The council members and mayor receive discounted rates. On top of their salaries, Mitchell elected officials receive discounted memberships to Lakeview Golf Course and the Mitchell Recreation Center, and a 40% discount on Corn Palace concessions during regular hours, according to Ellwein.
Discounted rates for Lakeview Golf Course include a 10% veteran’s discount, a 10% corporate discount, a 40% Golf and Cemetery board member discount and a 40% city employee discount. This discount is determined by the Golf board, according to Nelson.
Discounted rates for the Mitchell Recreation Center include a 15% corporate discount and a 50% city employee discount. The Mitchell Activities Center ice arena has a 50% employee discount for open skate, open skate memberships and bumper cars. The 50% discount does not apply to Park board members, according to Nelson.
Twice a month, the Planning and Zoning Commission receives Subway lunches during its meeting. The Library Board of Trustees and city employees both receive an extra week of check out privileges for circulation items at the Mitchell Public Library.
Other city boards receive no discounts, including the Sports and Events Authority advisory committee, Corn Palace Entertainment Board, Parks and Recreation board, Main Street BID No. 3 board, the hoteliers BID No. 4 board, and Community Services board.
Marshall Mitchell is a reporter with the Mitchell Republic covering local news and politics. He has over 15 years of experience working with leaders, authors, non-profits, and small businesses in publishing, marketing, and content creation. He moved to Mitchell in December 2024, and can’t wait to hear from you. Reach out to him at mmitchell@mitchellrepublic.com.
