Council hears case for Phase 2 golf‑course irrigation work as older system fails more frequently

Superior city staff told the Committee of the Whole on Aug. 5 that the public golf course requires a two‑phase irrigation project: Phase 1 — pond dredging and capacity improvements — is funded, but Phase 2 — replacement of buried piping, electrical systems and sprinkler infrastructure — remains unfunded and is increasingly urgent as system failures rise.

Finance staff said the golf course can contribute to debt service but cannot carry a full $4 million bond alone. The golf course has revenue and may take on some debt, but multiple funding approaches are being examined. Director Reinhardt and finance staff indicated they are exploring options and expect to return with analyses.

Officials described repeated failures in piping and electrical systems, one of which required about 800 man‑hours of hand watering to cover the affected area. Staff said the existing system dates from the 1970s–1980s and is failing more frequently, with both water‑delivery and electrical faults expected to continue without capital replacement.

Phase 1 builds storage and reduces reliance on municipal potable water by dredging and interconnecting ponds; Phase 2 is the distribution and control system needed to automate irrigation. Staff warned that leaving the system to manual watering would be costly over time and risk long‑term damage to the golf‑course turf and asset value.

No appropriation was made at the meeting; finance staff said further analysis is underway to identify funding mixes that could include some golf‑course debt, city contributions and other sources.