More than three years after Gold Creek Golf Club closed, the property's overgrowth and expanding nuisance wildlife population have stirred concern from neighbors.

Monday night, the Gold Creek Homeowners Association presented a formal complaint about the situation to the Dawsonville City Council.

According to Jon Steiner, association president, "letting nature take its own course" at the site has meant increasing resident encounters with coyotes, vermin and snakes.

Steiner asked the city to address the property's "disorder" with local businessman Kenneth K. Turner in the hope that it would "at least show him the city is supporting Gold Creek."

Turner acquired the nearly 355-acre site, including the clubhouse, golf course and several adjacent home lots, for $900,000 in December 2010. The price was less than half of the property's appraised value.

Turner did not attend the meeting. Reached by phone afterward, he said he's been working to reopen the golf course, which has been closed since 2008, for about a year.

He did not indicate how long it would take to get the course back in shape, but said he is "waiting to get the sprinkler system straightened out" before having the tall grass cut.