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<br /> ti <br /> Each fall, irrigation specialist John Clark prepares a list of water meters <br /> that can e shut off until the following spring. The list is routed to EWEB, <br /> and meter charges are suspended until the meters are turned back on. This <br /> practice aves the City several thousand dollars each year. <br /> Generic F rtilizer Saves Money and Improves Quality <br /> High-qual ty turfgrass fertilizers, particularly slow-release nitrogen <br /> fertilize s, are expensive sometimes as much as $700 a ton. The City <br /> obtains a fertilizer, which is specifically formulated for our region and <br /> that cont ins slow-release nitrogen, for less than half this amount by using <br /> a generic specification. The specifications were developed by Parks turf and <br /> grounds s pervisor Tim Rhay. Any company that can custom blend fertilizers <br /> can give s a price quote for the product. Using the generic fertilizer <br /> offers ec nomic, agronomic, and operational advantages for the City. For <br /> example, a actually paid less per ton for fertilizer this summer than last <br /> year. <br /> Infield M intenance Efficiencies <br /> Staff fro the Public Works turf and grounds crew have developed more <br /> efficient and effective ways to cultivate and maintain softball infields <br /> using a tractor-mounted implement called a "rotary harrow." Both equipment <br /> and staf time spent in preparing an infield have been reduced, as has the <br /> need for herbicides to control weeds. Softball players also are much happier <br /> with the infields. <br /> Computerized Irrigation Control Has Great Potential <br /> <br />