Parks board backs BMU raw-water connection for Edgebrook Golf Course; council approves small capital-fee increase

Brookings — City parks staff and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended this week that the city connect Edgebrook Golf Course to Brookings Municipal Utilities’ (BMU) raw-water line to provide a redundant, long-term irrigation source, and the City Council approved a modest increase to the golf course capital-improvement fee.

Christian Zimmerman, parks, recreation and forestry director, reviewed six water-source options the city evaluated for the public course: on-site wells, improved pond collection, a connection to treated water, a connection to BMU raw (pre-treatment) water, a connection to a city-owned softball-complex well, and new wells south of the property. For reliability and redundancy, Zimmerman said the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommends connecting to BMU’s raw-water line.

"The pond will act as a holding pond. So for irrigation because we need a lot of water quick when we irrigate for the golf course," Zimmerman said, describing the intended role of lined holding ponds fed by the chosen source.

The committee’s analysis put construction cost estimates for the BMU raw-water connection at about $1.3 million in projected construction costs; a treated-water connection was shown at roughly $1.9 million for a 10-year worst-case scenario. The presentation noted that the 10-year cost calculation includes raw-water purchase at worst-case drought-year rates and typical pumping and operational costs. Zimmerman said pump motors have an expected life of about 10 years; he estimated irrigation pumping needs near 120 gallons per minute and that pumps would rotate in and out.

Zimmerman told the council the BMU raw-water option is roughly $100,000 more expensive than relying on a well south of the course — but the BMU option gives the city redundancy, access to multiple BMU wells, and water that contains minerals good for turf. BMU staff member Eric Witt provided a proposal to the city after earlier conversations, the council was told.

At the council meeting, members asked about liner materials and pond hydraulics. Zimmerman said the main holding pond would be lined with clay and connected to a second pond via a one-way culvert; the lined pond will also be aerated and could include fountain features.

Council later considered a resolution to increase the golf course capital-improvement fee that funds the course’s capital improvement program. Zimmerman said the fee change would add about $21,000 a year to the golf-course capital fund. He described several planned capital projects — including water sourcing, pond lining, and a redesigned irrigation layout to move heads off fairways — and said the golf course operates as an enterprise fund and fees should support course investments.

During the debate, Councilmember Specker asked whether the capital fee, if left unchanged, would delay projects for decades; staff and the city manager said fee increases were one of several funding sources (including grants and existing liquor-store and other transfers) and that the city would return with more concrete funding recommendations as bids and estimates matured. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had asked for more details before recommending a fee change; Zimmerman said the board ultimately recommended proceeding with the BMU connection but wanted further clarity on final costs during the bid process.

A resident, Doug Smith, spoke in support of raising fees, noting membership growth at the course; Smith said the work would be good value for members. The council approved the fee increase on a recorded vote.

Next steps: staff will move forward with the design and bid process, and the council will review contracts and final budget recommendations once bids are received.