Council approves up to $492,000 contract for new wastewater blower system

City staff presented and the council approved a contract with JCI Industries LLC to supply and install a new blower system for the wastewater treatment plant's final sludge holding tank.

Water Superintendent Jason Stoutzman said the plant's existing blowers are aging and parts are increasingly difficult to obtain; JCI quoted a price that staff confirmed as $492,000 to replace all three blowers. Staff corrected a typographical reading error during the meeting and the council approved the resolution authorizing the administrator to execute the contract not to exceed $492,000.

Council members noted the contract size and asked only clarifying questions; no public opposition was recorded during the hearing.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the contract and schedule the blower replacement; project is intended to maintain sludge handling and composting operations.