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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Before city council increases rates at the Hollenback Golf Course, it should take a closer look at the expenses associated with it, controller Darren Snyder advised.</p><p>At its meeting Thursday night, council approved the first of two readings of an ordinance to raise playing and membership fees.</p><p>City-owned Hollenback loses money and the administration has proposed charging higher fees to bring in additional revenue and put it on par with other local courses.</p><p>The increases have yet to be determined, but they don&#8217;t have to be set so high to put the nine-hole course in a break-even position, Snyder pointed out.</p><p>&#8220;To have a zero balance, it may not be reasonable to have that expectation,&#8221; said Snyder.</p><p>The course along North Washington Street is a public asset, he said. Rates haven&#8217;t been raised since 2010.</p><p>Last year, it cost the city approximately $269,000 to operate while bringing in nearly $108,000 in revenues for a shortfall of about $160,000, Snyder said.</p><p>But the figure of $67,000 in salaries associated with the course was inaccurate. The course is not open year round, and when it closes the workers do other jobs with the Department of Public Works. He estimated the salary expense should be cut by $30,000 to $40,000 to get a more accurate estimate.</p><p>City Attorney Tim Henry said he would provide council members with proposed rates for them to review and make adjustments before voting on the ordinance again.</p><p><strong>Liquor-license move denied</strong></p><p>In other business Thursday, council:</p><p>&#8226; Voted 4-1 against the transfer of a liquor license to La Villa Restaurant and Catering LLC at 369 S. Main St. The license was to be acquired from Shmoopy&#8217;s Inc. of 106 McLean St., Wilkes-Barre, that operated a bar and restaurant in Hanover Township. Council members Bill Barrett, Mike Belusko, Tony Brooks and Mike Merritt opposed the transfer. Councilwoman Beth Gilbert supported it.</p><p>&#8226; Approved two resolutions dealing with the hiring of Alfred Benesch and Company to design the North Washington Street bridge replacement and inspect city-owned bridges starting this year and running through 2022.</p><p>The Chicago-based company has a Hazleton office and will be paid mostly with federal funds. The city would pay 15 percent of the cost at most, but it would come from the Liquid Fuels Account and not the general fund budget. The city&#8217;s cost has yet to be finalized.</p><p>&#8226; Elite Championship Tournament Baseball will be allowed to lease city fields on weekends for games from May 1 to Nov. 1 of this year.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WB council gives preliminary OK for fee hike at Hollenback Golf Course