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City Council Approves $710,000 John Deere Equipment Package for Cattail Crossing

Golf ball near hole on sunlit green. Text: City Council approves $710k John Deere package for Cattail Crossing. Watertown, SD logo.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council voted tonight to overhaul the maintenance fleet at Cattail Crossing Golf Course, approving a $710,000 equipment lease-purchase agreement with Van Wall Equipment.


The decision shifts the golf course away from a traditional purchasing model toward a structured 60-month lease-purchase plan. This strategy was recommended to help the city maintain a modern fleet while lowering rising repair costs associated with aging machinery.


“I think what we’re experiencing is some of our mowers, we’re hanging on to for a longer period of time, and then our maintenance costs are rising,” Chief Financial Officer Kristen Bobzien told the council. She noted that the useful life of this equipment is typically around 7 years, making a short-term lease a more viable option than traditional ownership.


Competitive Bidding and Savings

Following a sealed bid process that included proposals from Midwest Turf and Irrigation (Toro) and Van Wall Equipment (John Deere), staff recommended the Van Wall proposal. Key factors in the selection included:

·        Cost Efficiency: The Van Wall proposal was $43,208 lower than the Midwest Turf bid.

·        Added Value: The package includes an additional set of reels for the greens mowers, valued at approximately $10,000.

·        Maintenance Support: Van Wall provided all necessary service documentation and a three-year comprehensive warranty.


Financial and Fleet Impact

The total selling price for the new equipment is $710,000. After applying a $84,500 trade-in credit, the total financed amount is $625,500. The agreement features a lease rate of 5.8%, with annual payments of $139,978.30.


The move aligns with the city’s 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which had already budgeted $150,000 for replacement equipment in 2026—exceeding the actual annual lease cost. Because of the “lease purchase” structure, the city will have the option to buy the equipment for $1.00 at the end of the term on Dec. 23, 2030.


Scott Shunter, Golf Course Superintendent at Cattail Crossing, clarified that while city staff will still handle day-to-day operations, the lease includes a three-year comprehensive warranty.


“We would still be in charge of all maintenance, the day-to-day stuff,” Shunter explained. “With this equipment bid, we get a three-year comprehensive warranty... parts and materials, we will get reimbursed.”


New Maintenance Inventory

The approved package introduces several 2026 model-year units to the course. The fleet will now include:

·        4 Triplex Mowers (2400 PrecisionCut)

·        2 TerrainCut Rough Mowers (9009A)

·        2 PrecisionCut Fairway Mowers (6700A)

·        3 ProGator Utility Vehicles and 3 Gator TX Turf models

·        2 Topdressers (Turfco and ProGator models)


Surplus Equipment

As part of the motion, the council declared 14 pieces of old machinery as surplus for trade-in. This includes various Toro and John Deere units dating back to 2007. Notable trade-ins include a 2018 GroundsMaster 4700-D and multiple Workman utility vehicles.

The maintenance equipment lease (item 10A) passed unanimously, following a motion by Councilman Michael Heuer and a second by Councilman Dan Schutte.


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