Gurnee approves $3.42 million contract to replace Bittersweet Golf Course irrigation system

The Village of Gurnee on July 21 voted to award a $3,420,000 contract to Commercial Irrigation Inc. to replace the irrigation system at village-owned Bittersweet Golf Course. The board said the project protects a village asset, reduces recurring maintenance demands and is timed to minimize loss of playing season.

Why it matters: the irrigation system has reached the end of its useful life, staff said, producing hundreds of leaks and requiring scarce replacement parts. Village and course officials say replacing the system will reduce long-term maintenance costs and help preserve revenue the course generates for the village.

Bid, scope and schedule The village, working with course manager Golf Vision and designer EC Design, solicited bids and received two offers. Commercial Irrigation Inc. of Peoria was the low bidder at $3,420,000; the other bid was about $3,870,000. Installation is scheduled to begin on or after March 1, 2026, with an estimated construction period of about four months depending on weather. The work includes about 900 sprinkler heads, roughly 260 valves, a weather station, one pump station and approximately 16.5 miles of pipe.

Funding breakdown and board rationale Staff described a funding plan that combines multiple sources: about $500,000 in an amusement-tax-revenue reserve tied to Bittersweet, $1,000,000 previously earmarked in capital-fund surplus, and $500,000 from the golf course’s internal reserves. Finance staff recommended using up to $1,500,000 from a projected general-fund surplus (a staff recommendation tied to FY2024–25 results) to reach roughly $3.5 million in available funds to cover the project and related costs. The contract award itself is for $3,420,000; the additional available funds create a contingency for associated capital work.

Course superintendent’s account of failures Brad Anderson, Bittersweet’s grounds superintendent, described extensive ongoing failures in the existing system. "There are hundreds of leaks on the golf course right now," Anderson said. "We can't get parts for the sprinklers anymore. We're spending $300 every time we repair a broken sprinkler because the $20 component that's leaking, they don't make anymore." He said staff time spent on repeated repairs has diverted maintenance resources from habitat management and routine course care.

Board discussion and vote Trustees emphasized that the village is using a pay-as-you-go approach rather than issuing debt. Trustee O’Brien noted that visitor-driven taxes fund much of the work. Trustee Garner moved to award the contract; Trustee Ross seconded. The motion passed on roll call with six ayes.

Implementation notes Per the bid specifications, installation will be scheduled to minimize disruption to golfers; staff said some holes might be closed temporarily on work days. Village staff and Golf Vision will coordinate staging, safety procedures and homeowner notifications for work adjacent to residential properties.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article are those who spoke on the record at the July 21 meeting; their statements in this article are drawn from the meeting transcript.