By a slim vote (4-3), council members in St. Paul, Minnesota have decided to seek private-sector managers for their Como and Phalen golf courses. More than a dozen groups have already contacted the city about the opportunity, reports the St. Paul Pioneer Press, though not all are guaranteed to respond to the city’s request for proposals.

Golf operations have become an intolerable financial burden in St. Paul, as the city’s three properties are said to be $8 million in the hole. The goal is to have new operators in place by sometime in February.