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Gardner City: emergency repairs and city water taps keep golf course alive after Crystal Lake failures
Summary
Course staff filed an emergency order to repair inlet piping to Crystal Lake after low lake levels seized a pump; staff tapped city water and spent about $8,900 on plumbing hardware while contractors are scheduled to repair the lake feed.
At a Gardner City meeting, staff reported they had filed an emergency motion and tapped city water after an inlet pipe feeding Crystal Lake failed and one pump seized, leaving the golf course with enough pressure only to hand-water greens and tees.
The report came from Speaker 4, a staff member, who described the repairs and temporary water plan. "We had to file for an emergency motion in order to fix, the pipe we've been trying to fix, that inlet pipe that comes from Crystal Lake down into our pump house," Speaker 4 said. He added that the lake level was so low the staff had "actually seized 1 of our pumps." Speaker 4 said course crews had tapped into city water near the hospital side behind No. 6 and on the Eaton Street side near No. 13 and that "we spent about $8.9000 in plumbing and hardware in order to tap in so that we get city water."
Why it matters: the course can no longer run full irrigation from Crystal Lake and lacks the volume and pressure for fairway sprinklers, a change that increases operating costs and limits turf maintenance. "All we have the ability to do basically is hand water greens and teas," Speaker 4 said. He also warned that processed city water is more expensive than the unprocessed lake water the course previously used.
Course staff told members they had lined up contractors for the repairs next week after the emergency order was approved. Speaker 4 said the city had given permission to proceed "to the end of the month," and crews plan excavation, pipe replacement and motor inspection once the refurbished motor arrives. The staff member said they expect some parts and labor costs and that the motor would be checked when crews bring the refurbished unit.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the filing and timeline. Speaker 1 asked where the emergency order was filed; Speaker 4 replied it was filed with the state and with Concom last week. No formal vote or new budget appropriation for the repairs was recorded during the meeting.
Course operations remain constrained while repairs proceed; staff said rain and temporary measures would guide short-term turf care decisions.
