Council approves extra funds and contract to finish irrigation at Cotton and Jolly’s parks

The Vermillion City Council voted April 20 to provide additional “second penny” funding to complete irrigation work at Cotton Park and Jolly’s Park and to award the installation contract to Precision Irrigation and Lawn Care of Beresford, South Dakota.

Parks department official Jim told the council staff solicited three quotes and that the low bid from Precision Irrigation and Lawn Care, $38,317, covers materials and labor to install automatic, rain-sensitive sprinkler systems, associated electrical and plumbing work, soil conditioning, system controls and user training. “The total cost is $38,317 to complete both parks and include all materials and labor,” Jim said during his presentation.

Jim said initial estimates for the work had been lower but that material and labor costs had increased; the current project budget was $26,000, and staff recommended using available second-penny funds to cover the difference. He described the work as commercial-style irrigation with smaller buried lines and explained the contract requires winterization procedures and training for system operation.

Council members asked technical questions about system depth, winterizing (blowing out lines) and which park areas would be irrigated. Jim said Cotton Park irrigation will cover the most-visible front and sides of the site; a planned playground area will not be irrigated at this time. He also noted a local company bid higher and that staff sought the lowest responsible bidder.

A motion to approve the funding and to sign an agreement with Precision Irrigation and Lawn Care was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.

The council did not provide a roll-call tally in the record. The contract award is to Precision Irrigation and Lawn Care (Beresford, SD), the additional funding is to come from the city’s second-penny funds, and staff will follow up on project timing and implementation details.