Sprinklers set to return for Colfax Cemetery

Sprinklers neared a return to normal operation at the Colfax cemetery this week as staff members finish setting up a renewed electrical programming system. The cemetery has not been watered since mid-June after a period of manual operation followed what is believed to be a lightning strike last fall that marred the system.

“It just gradually got worse,” said Ron Hinnenkamp, chairman of the cemetery board.

Joe Rupe, the sexton/groundskeeper, got replacement parts at Umbrella Sprinkler Services in Lewiston and put the system back together.

Now, they await a man from Umbrella to come up and re-program it.

“Give them their addresses so the motherboard knows where to send the signals to,” said Hinnenkamp.

The work is paid for by the cemetery fund and levy dollars. The cemetery is funded by $24,000 from the county per year, and a $100,000 annual levy.

“If the control system goes completely haywire, you can't even do it manually,” Hinnenkamp said.

Once the water is back on the lawns, lost time will need to be made up.

“It probably won't green up until next spring,” said Hinnenkamp.