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Isanti keeps snowmakers and directs staff to test equipment options before buying more
Summary
The Committee decided to retain recently purchased snowmakers and directed staff to investigate whether a single higher‑capacity pressure washer and a shared compressor can run multiple guns rather than buying separate units, after members flagged a broad 1–10 gallons‑per‑minute manufacturer spec.
Committee members and staff discussed the performance and hookup requirements for newly purchased snowmaker units. Manufacturer specifications presented in the meeting listed a broad operating range of "1 to 10 gallons per minute" per gun; councilmembers said that range is too vague for planning and cost estimates.
Speaker 2 raised the budget concern: an additional equipment purchase could cost about $12,000 more, and the Committee did not want to spend that until staff verified requirements. Speaker 3 (operations staff) explained the real unknowns are the compressor (CFM/volume) and whether a single pressure washer could feed multiple guns without unacceptable loss of pressure or snow quality: "Getting the pressure to each unit and an air compressor being able to keep up with all 5 of these units...I think that's the real unknown," Speaker 3 said.
Options discussed included buying a larger industrial compressor or generator, using buffer tanks (repurposed water heaters) to increase air storage, splitting lines with couplers and testing a single higher‑capacity pressure washer to see how many guns it can support. Speaker 7 recommended being conservative: test with an additional compressor and extra pressure washer rather than returning the machines immediately.
Outcome: the Committee did not authorize a large additional purchase; staff (Matt and operations) were directed to contact the manufacturer for real‑world recommendations, check fittings and costs, and run on‑site tests over the coming winter to determine whether extra pressure washers or compressors are necessary.
