County Recommends $320,000 Irrigation Retrofit at Cascades Golf Course; Funded From Course Balance

Jackson County staff recommended a phased retrofit of the Cascades Golf Course irrigation system rather than a full replacement, telling the General Government Committee the approach would address most current problems at a lower near‑term cost.

The presenter said a full replacement with a modern double‑row system was estimated at about $11.8 million in 2022, which is beyond current funding. The recommended retrofit would cost about $223,000 for labor plus about $96,000 in parts purchased directly from the supplier, for a total of just over $320,000, and would be paid from the golf course fund balance.

Why it matters: Irrigation reliability affects course maintenance costs, water use, and ability to operate the golf course seasonally.

Details: The presenter described the retrofit as a phased approach that would likely eliminate 80–90% of the existing problems related to irrigation heads and staff time spent on repairs. The proposal included selecting the lower of two labor bids and sourcing parts directly to avoid markup. The committee voted to forward the recommendation to the full board.

What was not specified: The transcript does not include contractor names, detailed water‑use impacts, or the exact fund balance amount the county will draw on.

Next steps: The item will be considered by the full board for final approval and funding allocation.