Chelan approves audit of savings, costs of golf irrigation replacement

CHELAN — The city will move forward with a $144,974 study to determine how much water and electricity savings could help pay to replace the aging irrigation system at Lake Chelan Golf Course.

The Chelan City Council approved an agreement with McKinstry Essention LLC on Oct. 13, advancing a proposal the company presented Sept. 22. The investment-grade audit will develop project scopes, construction prices, projected savings and financing options without committing Chelan to construction.

Parks and Recreation Director Audrey Cooper cautioned that anticipated utility savings would be at most about $20,000 annually. The audit will provide more detailed projections to help council determine what improvements to pursue and how to pay for them.

McKinstry expects to complete the work within approximately 90 days of contract execution. Cooper said the findings would allow council to consider individual components or a phased construction approach.

The audit will cover irrigation infrastructure, changes to move irrigation off seasonal reliance on the domestic water supply, water piping serving the course’s fountains and restrooms and exterior lighting.

The course currently switches to city water when low lake levels expose its irrigation intake. McKinstry’s evaluation will examine improvements to that intake, along with piping, irrigation ponds and pump infrastructure. Determining potential water savings is complicated by the lack of irrigation metering, which the company identified during its September presentation.

A 2021 assessment concluded that the irrigation system had exceeded its useful life and recommended replacing its pipes, sprinkler heads, controls, valves and pumps. McKinstry will build on design work already completed by Mears Design Group.

The company uses energy savings performance contracting, which can apply guaranteed utility and operational savings toward capital improvements. The audit is intended to establish how much those savings could contribute to the golf course project.

If Chelan proceeds with construction through McKinstry, the audit fee would become part of the overall project cost. If the company produces recommendations meeting the proposal’s criteria and the city chooses another course, Chelan would reimburse McKinstry’s time and expenses up to $144,974. The proposal provides no financial obligation if the company cannot recommend projects meeting those criteria.

Councilmember Agustin Benegas asked whether proceeding with McKinstry would require another bidding process. Cooper said the city selected the company through a cooperative purchasing agreement using an existing competitive procurement process. McKinstry could perform some work itself and subcontract other portions.

The audit was not included in the 2026 capital budget. Cooper said staff had identified lodging tax dollars to cover the expense and would bring forward a budget amendment.

The city’s draft six-year parks capital plan lists a preliminary $4.5 million estimate for irrigation replacement, with construction tentatively scheduled for 2028. That spending has not been approved. The audit will give council more detailed costs and savings projections before it decides how to proceed.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media