The Clay County Commission approved a $45,000 transfer within the Parks Department budget on Sept. 25 to cover water and sewer invoice shortfalls caused by multiple leaks in the park waterline system.

John Davis, parks director, told commissioners the transfer would move $45,000 from the building and equipment repair line to the parks' water-and-sewer line. "This is a big line. This supplies Little Platte Park, the docks, shelter houses, the beach house, and maintenance shop on that side," Davis said, noting the line serves campgrounds, restrooms, the park office, Sailboat Cove and a restaurant.

Nut graf: Parks staff said they have repaired roughly 26 leaks this year and discovered one large leak associated with a fire hydrant that likely had been leaking since late June. Davis said a planned waterline replacement project has not yet started and is scheduled to begin Oct. 6; the transfer is intended to carry the park through the remainder of the year.

Davis said the department had anticipated fewer repairs after scheduling the waterline replacement under the lake, but that project had not started. "We've had about 26 leaks that we have repaired this year. One was a big one — a fire hydrant behind Little Platte shop. We didn't catch it till September. It's probably been leaking since late June," he said.

The commission approved agenda item 2025279 by voice vote; roll call recorded six yes votes and the motion passed 6–0.

Ending: Davis said the department hopes the waterline project will begin in October and resolve many of the leaks; the transfer is intended as a stopgap for the 2025 maintenance budget.