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City hears $1.23 million irrigation estimate for golf course, staff told to refine financing options
Summary
Contractor Fred Shrady told Wahpeton City officials a recent quote for replacing the Boise/Voyages golf-course irrigation system came in at about $1.232 million; the Joint Powers Authority has pledged $675,000 and the modeled annual city share could be roughly $56,250 over 20 years. Staff will return with plans, specs and financing scenarios.
Fred Shrady, the project representative, told the Wahpeton City meeting that initial bids for the Boise/Voyages golf-course irrigation replacement were higher than earlier estimates and that a recent contractor quote "came in at $1,232,000." Shrady said the figure followed earlier estimates of "$900,000 to $1,000,000" and that he expected Dunnic to refine the on-site layout and possibly reduce the final cost.
City staff and councilors discussed options to cover the higher estimate. Darcy, a city staff member involved in the financing analysis, summarized modeling that showed a larger financing scenario could produce annual debt-service in the mid-five-figure range: "The JPA is willing to commit up to $33,750 per year," Darcy said, "The Voyages Golf Club is going to contribute $25,000 and that leaves a balance of $56,250 that would have to come from the city each year." Darcy described a 20-year amortization at 5 percent in the city's illustrative model.
Shrady and staff identified several cost drivers. A potential intake filter to keep river and lake debris out of the system was quoted at about $50,000 for the unit alone; installation would be additional. Shrady also said phasing the work (for example, nine holes one year and nine the next) would reduce immediate scope but could add mobilization or efficiency costs—he estimated phasing might add roughly $50,000–$100,000.
Financing options discussed included asking the JPA to pledge future diversion payments (Shrady said the JPA indicated willingness to pledge up to 40 years of revenues if needed), a negotiated or private placement bond sale with local banks (staff said five local institutions had previously expressed interest in feasibility modeling), or putting municipal cash toward the project to reduce the financed amount.
Councilors asked for plans, specifications and updated quotes from the golf-board representative; Shrady said revised documents were not ready for the meeting but expected to provide them soon. Staff said they had sufficient direction to proceed with more detailed modeling and to prepare an RFP or bank outreach if the council wanted to pursue formal financing. No formal motion to fund the project was taken.
Next steps: staff will collect the revised plans and quotes, run updated financing scenarios (including phasing and cash-down options), and return to the council with firmer cost estimates and procurement documents.
