DEXTER – Residents have stopped council members on the street and told them that the municipal golf course should be sold, but none of those residents took the opportunity on Tuesday to say it publicly.

Instead, a hearing held this week on the future of the golf course, one of the few remaining municipally owned facilities in the state, was packed mostly by golfers who encouraged the council to keep the “jewel.” They also supported the town’s relationship with resident Jim Costedio, who has operated the facility on a contractual basis.

Because Costedio’s three-year contract ends in April, the council wanted to hear from residents regarding the facility’s future. Options for the golf course noted by the Town Council at previous meetings included continuing to contract the facility or selling it.

Based on the comments made on Tuesday, the council now is expected to begin negotiations with Costedio on a new contract.

“Isn’t there a hidden benefit to the town?” resident Juanita Taylor asked Tuesday. The golf course draws people to town who spend money elsewhere in the community, she said. “I think the golf course is a jewel.”

Even with the facility under contract, the town subsidizes the golf course at a cost of $10,000 to $12,000 annually, according to Costedio. About $7,000 of that is for maintenance of the buildings, the 50 acres of property and the aging pieces of equipment.

It is that aging equipment that has the Town Council concerned. Town Manager Judy Doore called the situation a “real serious issue.” The Town Council no doubt will need to include funds in the 2007-2008 budget to upgrade the equipment, some of which is specialized, she said Tuesday.

Costedio, who, one golfer noted, has efficiently used duct tape and bungee cords to hold equipment together, said the issue was not too serious because the equipment could be updated over time.

“It’s not an insurmountable hurdle,” he said Tuesday. While the equipment is old, its quality is “top-notch,” he noted.

“Duct tape and bungee cords don’t last forever,” Doore replied.

Councilor Rick Goodwin, who envisioned “a black cloud ahead,” said the equipment problem is only going to get worse and someone will have to foot the bill.

For fiscal year 2006-2007, which began in July, the Town Council budgeted $23,700 for the entire golf course operation. Of that, $11,500 will be reimbursed by Costedio, so the net amount paid by property tax payers will be $12,200, residents were told.

Putting that amount into perspective, resident Tom Tillson noted that a high school basketball program cost $15,000 a year and a football program cost $25,000 a year, both of which last about 10 weeks and have limited players. Golf operates 26 weeks and any age person can play, he said.

The cost also was compared to the council’s plan to rehabilitate the town hall. Between a state grant and funds budgeted by the town, about $180,000 is available for the work.

Before the hearing, the council awarded a contract to E.W. Littlefield and Sons Inc. of Hartland to install an elevator required by law, and to revamp the front entrance and stairs of the building. The firm’s bid was the lowest of three. Town officials will continue to seek state grants to cover the $62,000 needed to redo the heating system.

Resident Don Holsapple noted that the town hall doesn’t get much use. It would a “no brainer” to subsidize the golf course rather than put $180,000 in the town hall, according to Holsapple.

Doore said the state grant is specifically for the rehabilitation of the town hall, Dexter’s only community center.

That prompted someone in the back of the room to pipe up that he was all for selling the town hall.

Unlike the town hall, the golf course is a draw for retirees to the community, according to Herbert Greenberg.

“You can’t put a price tag on the value of it,” he said. “It is an attraction.”