By DENISE FEDOROW
NAPPANEE — Nappanee City Council members on Monday approved an ordinance declaring an emergency and appropriating additional funds for the golf course’s irrigation system.
Streets and Parks Superintendent Wayne Scheumann explained to council members that the park board has been setting aside $2 from every green fees for capital improvements for a number of years and the current balance is $9,966.39.
Scheumann said the course’s irrigation system needs to be updated. The timers have been obsolete since 1979 and he said officials were told 18 months ago that the parts were discontinued. Scheumann said they got by last year finding parts here and there but “we’re at a point now that we’re taking a chance the controllers will go down during the midst of golf season.”
The additional appropriation will be used as a partial payment on the upgrades. The total projected expected cost is approximately $30,000. Scheumann emphasized he was not asking for new money. “This is money we’ve banked for years,” he said.
Council member Todd Nunemaker asked if the $9,966 was a down payment.”
“It’s for the first phase,” Scheumann replied. “Most of the work will be done in-house but we had a commitment to purchase some equipment.”
The council also set a public hearing on the ordinance for Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
