FAIRHOPE, Ala. - During a tight budget season this year, municipal retirees can thank a former high-ranking employee for saving their right to play free golf at the city course during their twilight years – so long as they retired this week.

But those city employees who retire after Sept. 27 will have to pay greens fees like the rest of the golfing public.

For more than a decade, city retirees were exempt from greens fees at Quail Creek Golf Course. As one of several budget-tightening measures this year, that policy changed Sept. 13 when some fees and policies were changed at the course and other facilities such as the recreation center, swimming pool and James P. Nix Center.

Those changes were hashed out during numerous committee meetings this year, with some proposals running headlong into long-standing policies and traditions, which raised the hackles of many in the community and among city employees.

Several of those issues roiled several times during Monday’s City Council meeting and work session.

At the work session, Council President Lonnie Mixon said he had been informed that three retired employees “had been told” they would be allowed to pay golf for free when they retired, no matter what other fee changes the city made at the course n the future.

Mixon said those three retirees were former electrical superintendent Aaron Norris, former parks and recreation department director Eddie Boyette, and Vandy Dale, who worked at the public works department.

“Those are the only three retirees who were told that,” Mixon said he had been informed. “I was also told they were the only three city retirees who played golf at the course.”

That last comment drew several snickers from a packed meeting room that included many senior citizens in a town well-known as a retirement community.

Mixon did not elaborate on who gave those three retirees that special status, or how it was done officially, and no council members inquired.

But while considering whether to make an exception to the new policy for just those three retirees, Councilman Rick Kingrea said if the policy were modified, “It probably should be all retired employees as of this date.”

That recommended change was approved by the council at its regular meeting that night, meaning those three former employees and other retirees as of Sept. 27 maintained their greens fees exemption.

After the meeting, one local official doubted whether anyone told those three retirees they could play golf for free throughout their retirement.

Most of the citywide fee changes became effective today— at the start of the new fiscal year— but the golf fee changes went into effect last month, according to an employee there.

Those changes included an increase of one dollar to $24 per 18 holes with cart fees being reduced one dollar to $8 per nine holes. In addition, memberships for people within Fairhope city limits did not change, but for those outside, the fees increased $25 per year.

Current city employees will continue to receive free greens fees but must pay for a cart, although they can walk for free, according to city staff.

Old traditions die hard

On Wednesday, Mixon said it was Norris who called him recently about the change in golf fees. He said Norris explained the old policy, stating the change should be reversed for the reasons Mixon described at the Monday work session.

When contacted this week, Norris at first denied contacting Mixon about the policy change. But after he was told that Mixon said he had received a phone call from him, he talked at length about the issue.

“I just called Lonnie to voice my opinion,” Norris said Wednesday, adding he didn’t ask for the issue to be raised at Monday’s council meeting and only learned about it afterwards. “Vandy’s been playing out here for 10 years, and I’ve been playing a year and a half since I retired. I just thought it was part of my retirement package and didn’t think it was fair for them to cut it off.”

He said the permanent free golf benefit for retirees was bestowed by former Mayor Jim Nix, and either written into an ordinance, passed by resolution, or otherwise endorsed at a council meeting years ago.

“It’s been so long I would have no idea exactly what the wording was,” Norris said. “When I retired, it was my understanding that I would be able to continue receiving my greens fees, but that I would have to pay for my wife.”

Norris denied telling Mixon the old policy was created for just three retirees, but did say he and Dale were the only city retirees currently using the municipal course. He also said evidence of the golf fee benefit would be found in council minutes.

“I think an employee who works 30 years for the city of Fairhope should at least get some kind of benefit, instead of (the city) just slamming him upside the head and saying you’re gone,” Norris said.

Nix Center fees

Also on Monday, two senior citizens objected to fee increases at the Nix Center, with one stating privately that she was told by a senior city employee to come to the meeting and criticize the policy change.

One of the women said the $5 increase would not affect her ability to pay but could hurt others on fixed incomes who could not afford the $25 annual fee.

Health insurance benefits

Perhaps one issue discussed Monday that could be the most controversial of all retiree benefits concerns a proposed change in health insurance, which city officials and staff have said are more generous than those offered to employees in other cities.

Fairhope currently contributes 100 percent of premiums for single and family health care coverage for retirees until they become eligible for Medicare.

An ordinance was introduced Monday that would reduce those contributions for single coverage to 90 percent and family to 85 percent for current employees who later retire.

In addition, the proposed ordinance would eliminate city contributions for retiree health care premiums for employees hired after Sept. 30 this year.

The proposed ordinance is expected to be voted on at the Oct. 11 council meeting.