Northland golf club owner indicted in theft of water from KC

The owner of Staley Farms Golf Club in the Northland has been indicted on a felony charge of theft in the loss of millions of gallons of Kansas City water.

Marty Ostronic, 42, pleaded not guilty Thursday to the Class C felony charge issued this week by a Clay County grand jury.

Ostronic was released on his own recognizance. An attorney for Ostronic could not be reached for comment.

Jim Roberts, a spokesman for Clay County Prosecutor Daniel White, said a felony conviction could carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Last year, utility officials said they removed an unauthorized valve on a water line near the golf course that had been used to eventually divert water to a pond used for irrigation. Millions of gallons in treated city water were lost and unmetered, city officials said.

The golf club is part of a large subdivision of expensive homes, some topping $500,000.

In 2008, the Kansas City Water Services Department placed a lien on the golf course, saying it owed $1.6 million for city water and other fees. Later the city agreed to settle its claim against Premier Golf Missouri, which operated the course, for $251,400, although the golf club declared bankruptcy in September.

Mark Simpson, principal of Staley Land Co., said in a statement Thursday that the residential development was not related to the golf club or its owner. Simpson said the water loss was discovered when the developers audited irrigation water being used on the development’s common areas.

The developers, Simpson said, immediately reported the discovery to the Water Services Department. The water losses allegedly occurred between July 2003 and August 2008.

Under its settlement agreement, Premier Golf was to pay the city the $251,400 in five installments. The city has received the first of the five payments, said Cecilia Abbott, a senior associate city attorney. A city lien remains on the property, and the city expects to receive the balance, despite the bankruptcy.

Abbott said the city has backed out sewer fees it had originally calculated in its initial estimate of $1.6 million lost. City officials now place the loss at about $400,000.

Missing water has been a problem in Kansas City. But replacing old meters and installing a new system of meters that can be read automatically should greatly stanch the water losses, said Colleen Doctorian, a Water Services Department spokeswoman.

Installation of the new meter system will be completed in May, she said.

To reach Michael Mansur, call 816-234-4433 or send e-mail to mmansur@kcstar.com.

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