Board authorizes purchase of portable bypass pump for wastewater operations

Mark Clea, the wastewater superintendent, told the board the wastewater division has installed force-main connections that allow a portable pump to temporarily replace a lift station in the event of a complete station failure and recommended buying a portable bypass pump to complete that redundancy.

Cleа said the city solicited four quotes and staff identified a Godwin model from Zyllem as the most cost-effective option. The CIP lists the purchase for 2026 under project 6017411 with an estimated cost of $60,000; the packet lists a purchase amount quoted as "58,000 $6145" including delivery charges. Clea emphasized that funding will come from wastewater utility user fees, not the city’s tax base.

A motion to approve the purchase order was made and seconded and the board approved the recommendation.

The purchase completes the long-term plan to equip all four lift stations for portable-pump connections and is intended to reduce service disruption risk by enabling temporary pumping at an affected station while repairs are made.