Parks board votes to recommend council approval of golf-course cart-path change order and related work

The Parks and Recreation Board voted Thursday to recommend that the city council approve a change order and related expenditures for the municipal golf course’s cart-path project, including work by Eric and Sons Asphalt LLC and engineering costs that together would raise the project to about $254,804.

Board members discussed a formal change order item listed as PRYDASH24-06 — change order number 1 in the amount of $63,656.99 to Eric and Sons Asphalt LLC — and broader scope and prioritization for cart-path overlays and five bridge installations. Dennis Bowman, the golf-course representative, presented financial and scheduling details and said the work would complete most of the worst cart-path sections and allow crews to set several prefabricated bridges on prepared abutments.

Board discussion focused on scope, priorities and reserves. Bowman reported the golf course’s recent revenue growth — from about $602,000 three years ago to an expected $850,000–$860,000 this year — and said the course currently holds roughly $506,000 in its account. He described a target minimum reserve of $100,000 and said approving the change order and associated engineering would leave about $240,000 in the account, above the reserve target. Board members and staff discussed prioritizing the worst cart paths first, staging bridge abutment work with the contractor already on site, and options to defer some bridge installations to the July budgeting cycle if necessary.

After discussion, a board member made a motion to recommend council approval of the change order package and associated scope up to the approximately $254,804.09 figure discussed in the packet; another board member seconded. On a roll call the board voted unanimously in favor. The board’s action is a recommendation to the city council — council approval is required before the contractor will proceed on the expanded scope.

Board members emphasized two implementation points: (1) the contractor is on site and mobilized for the immediate cart-path work, so timing and mobilization cost savings argue for proceeding now; and (2) engineering and contingency planning will allow staff to prioritize work and avoid exceeding the approved budget if unforeseen base repairs surface during construction. Staff said the engineer would coordinate prioritization with the contractor so the project stays within the agreed limits if additional repairs are required.

Board members also discussed related operational items at the golf course: member stall demand for personal golf-cart storage, an upcoming proposed membership-price increase to keep pace with rising costs, and plans to replace the course’s fleet of carts in a future budget cycle. Bowman said the course had added corporate memberships and had a significant increase in year-to-year revenue for the July–December stretch of the prior year (from $368,000 to $466,000), which supported using carryover funds for this capital work.

The board recorded the roll-call votes as yes from Graybill; Reisser; Buffington; Graves; Shelby; Jackson; and Liz Jackson. The board’s motion was recorded as a recommendation to council rather than a final contractual approval by the city.

If the city council approves the recommendation, staff said the contractor will proceed with the prioritized cart-path overlays and set bridge units; staff also said two of the bridge installations with minimal concrete work could be completed promptly while the three requiring more significant abutment work could be scheduled with engineering and budget review for July if necessary.