Parks staff warn of equipment costs; propose three-year pool contract with Landmark Aquatics

At the operations update, Christian Hansen told the Madison City Park Board that several aging pieces of golf-course equipment required replacement parts and new reel rollers, and that some purchases exceeded the department’s normal annual-spend expectation because units are older and needed to be replaced.

"Good dirt does," Hansen said when board members asked why topsoil for Sunrise field work cost substantially more than expected, explaining that specialized material and a new T box for field 16 add to upcoming bills. Hansen said additional costs related to the Sunrise renovation will appear in next month’s packet.

Hansen also described a proposed agreement with Spears, doing business as Landmark Aquatics, to handle pool opening, closing and a mid-season inspection. He said staff will bring a three-year contract with provisions allowing price adjustments tied to material costs to the Board of Public Works for approval. He told the board the department lacks capacity to perform full pool winterization and that contractor expertise is required.

Separately, staff outlined plans for a perimeter drain at Crystal Beach Aquatic Park to reduce flooding near the diving board and to route water to storm drains rather than neighboring properties.

No final contract was executed at the meeting; Hansen said the contract proposal and associated documents will appear in the next packet and at the Board of Public Works meeting for formal approval.