The Tocqueville Municipal Golf Authority accepted the superintendent’s monthly report and approved several equipment purchases and repairs at its meeting, including a top dresser priced at $77,007.54 and a $220 shipping charge. Trustees voted unanimously to approve the superintendent’s report, routine payment orders and the list of purchases brought forward.

The superintendent, Mister Harmonik, summarized recent turf work and immediate maintenance needs. “We did two back-to-back algae applications because we’re getting algae on the greens really bad,” he said, and added that the crew followed the treatments with a heavy fertilizer application and verticutting. Harmonik told trustees the greens had a temporary brown appearance but had “grown back out really fast.”

The nut graf: the purchases and repairs are intended to keep the course playable through winter and prepare for spring tournaments. The authority discussed both short-term repairs — blade sharpening, sprinkler-head and valve replacement, bunker rakes and hoses — and larger capital purchases such as the top dresser and possible golf-cart fleet replacements.

Most important decisions and votes

Trustees voted to approve three formal items: acceptance of the superintendent’s monthly report, payment of August purchase orders, and approval of several proposed purchases (tire/wheel combos, reupholstering of carts, a top dresser, and one-inch water hoses). The roll-call votes recorded in the minutes show all trustees present voting “aye.”

What was discussed

Superintendent’s operations report: Harmonik reported routine and corrective turf work: algae treatments on the greens, a fungus treated on one green, followed by fertilizer and verticutting. The crew also sanded tees and performed limited punching and sanding work said to be the last for the growing season. He described a soil-health product used to break down colloids to improve water retention and nutrient uptake and said that product will be used again in the spring.

Irrigation and tee work: Harmonik said several tee boxes do not have permanent irrigation and require manual hose moves; he proposed running supply lines to create small irrigation zones controlled by valves. He estimated the material cost would be “very minimal.” He also asked trustees to inspect tees and greens in person so he could show them specific repair ideas and locations.

Equipment condition and maintenance: Trustees and staff discussed multiple pieces of equipment. A fairway mower is not idling up when engaged; they may bring in a John Deere technician if internal repairs are insufficient. The group discussed sharpening cutting reels and blades on greens and fringe mowers and maintaining older machines as backups.

Golf carts and fleet options: Harmonik presented quotes gathered from vendors. One dealer in Noble offered rebuilt 2023 carts with lead-acid batteries priced at about $4,100 each; a separate seller in McAllister offered 2020-model carts with lithium batteries at $3,000 each if the authority purchased five units at once. Harmonik cautioned trustees that lithium battery quality and chargers have produced occasional problems and said Robert (staff) handles cart maintenance and vendor contacts.

Top dresser purchase: Harmonik described a commercial top dresser model (ECO 250 or equivalent) that he said is used by similar-size courses and can spread up to a quarter-inch of sand per pass and cover up to 8 yards per hour. He reported a vendor price of $77,007.54 for the machine and $220 shipping to the dealer in Ardmore; he said the unit uses a Honda motor, has a poly hopper and that many replacement parts are available locally. Harmonik said the dealer described a two-year warranty on the unit and estimated long service life if properly maintained.

Smaller purchases and disposals: The superintendent asked to buy sets of tire/wheel combos (three or four sets), one-inch water hoses (about $270 each as shown on Amazon), heavier-duty bunker rakes (about $34 each; four needed), and to reupholster 14 carts incrementally at an estimated $100 per upholstery set. He also described plans to remove and legally dispose of stacked scrap wheels/tires and noted per-tire disposal fees at transfer stations or tire shops could apply.

Topsoil and site work: Harmonik said a local source (Kevin) would sell topsoil to the course for $50 per 10-wheeler load (retail $100 per load). He proposed stockpiling soil at course edges, then using pallets of sod and erosion controls in spring to repair washed areas.

Budget and timing: Trustees discussed current cash balances and a pending $50,000-plus building cost that will affect near-term funds. Several trustees said they were comfortable approving the smaller purchases immediately and expressed no objection to purchasing the top dresser now if the cash position allowed it; Harmonik said he preferred to buy the top dresser soon because prices could rise by spring.

Process and next steps

Trustees asked Harmonik to inspect carts and vendor offerings in person before finalizing a cart purchase and to provide photos and condition reports. The authority will proceed with the approved purchases within staff purchasing authority where applicable and will track larger capital spending (top dresser) against upcoming building expenses.

Ending: The board thanked the superintendent for the report, moved through trustee comments with no additional public comment, and adjourned the meeting.