Golf commission authorizes assessment after culvert collapse leaves bridge unsafe

Speaker 1 opened the meeting’s old-business discussion by identifying drainage problems on multiple holes and asked Speaker 3 to report on conditions at Parker Golf Course.

Speaker 3 described a blocked left culvert under a bridge that "is cavitated" and said the area is roped off because carts and turf equipment cannot cross. "We have it roped off. Can't get carts over there," Speaker 3 said, adding that pedestrians continue to walk through despite signs, creating "a really dangerous situation." He estimated the washed-away section to be "close to 4 feet deep" and the span of the damaged bridge at about "10 to 12 feet." Speaker 3 said prior attempts to throw stone and fill the washout have failed when heavy rain returns.

Commissioners discussed options, including clearing the brook and dredging the blocked culvert, versus excavating and replacing the pipe if it has failed. Speaker 4 cautioned that once a culvert pipe is removed it is typically discarded and replaced rather than reused. Speaker 3 noted he lacks a backhoe after equipment failure this season and suggested using available telephone poles and decking only as a temporary measure, but said excavation would likely be required for a lasting repair.

Speaker 2 proposed checking the city’s list of licensed contractors and contacting Patrick about retained contractors before moving to an external hire. The commission voted to authorize Ed Keyes to work with Patrick to pursue assessments and options, a motion that carried on a voice vote.

Next steps: the commission will ask a local contractor to assess the site and return estimates; if in-house crews can safely perform work, staff will prioritize those options to limit costs. The motion authorized staff coordination and outreach, not a specific contract or budget transfer.