Westwood clubhouse needs new water supply line for fire suppression system

Additional improvements for the new clubhouse at Westwood Golf Course were approved by the Newton City Council this past week, including the designs for a new water main and upgrades to existing water lines. The council’s action also gives the city the ability to pay these projects with water revenue bonds.

According to city documents, it was discovered during the construction phase of the clubhouse that the water pressure is not sufficient for the fire suppression system. In order to move forward with the clubhouse project, the city said it is necessary to upgrade the facility’s existing water lines to improve water pressure.

Newton City Council on March 17 unanimously approved a resolution combining the water loan agreement with the existing 2025 loan agreements into a single loan agreement and authorizing the use of a preliminary official statement. The approval of this resolution does not increase taxpayers’ debt service levy.

Approved earlier in the meeting was a professional services agreement with Bolton & Menk Engineering to design the water main loop project. This project would install an 8-inch water main and also connect the existing 6-inch water main at West 28th Street South to the existing service line at the golf course.

The looped water distribution system enhances the golf course’s capacity while also making it more reliable. City of Newton has stated the project should ensure adequate water supply for the clubhouse’s fire sprinkler system, improve fire flow capacity for the area and minimize future buildup within the pipes.

In total, the preliminary and final designs and the survey will cost $30,200.

Why create a loop system? The city stated in its agenda documents that the water distribution system currently terminates in a long dead-end near the driveway of Westwood Golf Course on Highway F-48 West. Dead-end water mains are not ideal as they can accumulate minerals and debris over time.

Coupled with the undersized water main that already exists and the capacity issues the accumulated materials can bring, it was determined the dead-end main is an insufficient way to supply the new clubhouse with the necessary water flow to support the new fire suppression system.

Newton Utilities Director Jody Rhone said there is no cost estimate for the actual project just yet, but the city will acquire an opinion of probable cost from Bolton & Menk as part of its professional services agreement. Mayor Evelyn George said the costs for the project will be paid through the water fund.

Council also approved a variance request for the clubhouse and the adherence to variance requirements, which also apply to the new fire sprinkler system.

The city acknowledged the clubhouse’s fire suppression system will not be operational at the time the building opens. A variance was presented to the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing and has been conditionally approved. The city is to issue a letter stating they will comply with the variance.

Specifically, the variance lets the city open the building without a proper water supply for the automatic fire suppression system, provided the upgraded water supply line is installed within a given time parameter and the fire suppression systems are then completed. The deadline is Dec. 31, 2025.

Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik submitted the variance request to DIAL.

As part of the variance, the city will make sure no open flame items are allowed outside of the kitchen area or within 25 feet of the exterior of the building, including candles, food warmers and other items used for food preparation or warming. No smoking will be allowed inside or within 25 feet of the exterior.

If there are times where the occupant load in the clubhouse exceeds 99 people — such as tournaments — the city is to hire a trained fire watch officer to monitor the number of occupants and be charged with the quick identification of hazards that could cause or have caused a fire.