HISID approves larger pump for golf course well

The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) apparently has a "gusher" of a new well to irrigate the golf course.

The Board of Commissioners convened a special meeting Friday and approved a second change order on the irrigation well project: that of installing a larger pump to be able to handle greater capacity than was originally estimated to be produced.

The entire budget for the project, including drilling, installing pump and motor, and constructing a water line, was $265,000.

The project was budgeted as part of the district's state-mandated radium remediation plan.

The original contract of $147,933.50, signed with Layne-Western, included drilling the 1,800-foot well and installing a 100 hp pump and motor, capable of delivering 540 gpm (gallons per minute) on immediate draw and dropping to 500 gpm sustained.

A problem with drilling in March resulted in a change order, adding $54,900 to the contract.

Friday's change order will install a 150 hp pump and motor that will deliver 720 gpm on immediate draw and 580 gpm sustained. The larger size pump will increase the project cost by $37,141.

The additional cost brings the total contract with Layne-Western to 241,069.50, after the district agreed to handle site cleanup and received a deduction for that. This figure, together with the estimated cost of the waterline, at $58,691, will bring the project $34,760.50 over budget so far.

Mathis, Carter & Associates, consulting engineers for the district, recommended the change.

In his memo to the board justifying the larger pump, District Manager Kevin Crosson noted the new well's radium levels test at below state-mandated maximums.

He said the change will also address future needs.

"From a water system master planning standpoint, maximizing this well will solidify our water production for many years to come, assuming that in the future, the golf course is irrigated from another source such as Table Rock Lake," he wrote.

The board also approved vacation of a 25-foot utility easement in Unit 9, Block 9, Lot 6, on Indian Wells Drive, which is owned by J&J Construction.

The easement goes through almost the middle of the lot, but the district does not need it. Electricity, water and sewer are already provided to that area.

Ron Jacobson of J&J Construction approached the Holiday Island Planning Commission in March to ask for a setback variance to build a spec house and garage. He said he wanted to build to avoid having to cut down trees on one side of the lot, but the utility easement interfered with the site plan.

"When we bought the property it didn't show a utility easement on the map," Jacobson told HIPC. "We had Red (Perkins, building inspector) over to look at it, and even he didn't know there was an easement there."

The easement was sited in the early 1970s when the lots were platted. Crosson noted in the March HIPC meeting that a 25-foot easement in a 100-foot lot seemed unrealistic.

There may have been an original plan to put in more lots later, according to district staff, but that did not occur. Crosson noted the district has vacated similar easements in other situations.

The board approved the district's vacation of the easement. J&J Construction is still planning to apply for a setback variance on one side, however.

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Eureka Springs Mayor Kathy Harrison announced the resignation of Finance Director Diane Murphy as another marathon city council meeting got underway Monday evening.

Restoration work okayed for house above Spring St.

The new owners of the houses at 138 and 140 Spring St. have gotten permission from the Eureka Springs Historic District Commission (HDC) to start work to save the structures and put them in usable condition.

HISID approves larger pump for golf course well

The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) apparently has a "gusher" of a new well to irrigate the golf course.

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