Meeting approves $500,000 Power Secure contract for wastewater plant power conversion and surplus-equipment sale

At a meeting in Bowling Green, officials approved a contract with Power Secure, Inc. to replace and integrate a backup generator transformer at the wastewater treatment plant and authorized the sale of surplus 4 kV equipment and an unused transformer.

Jim, the assistant utilities director, explained the conversion need, saying the plant’s distribution was upgraded to 12 kV and that an earlier transformer the city purchased is incompatible. He told the meeting the manufacturer of the diesel-generator unit provided a proposal to supply a correctly specified transformer, install it, pull cabling and coordinate controls. "It's u $500,000" he said when describing the vendor quote for procurement, installation and controls.

The board also discussed the disposition of existing equipment. Jim said staff asked for permission to sell the unused transformer and to dispose of or sell the remaining 4 kV switchgear once it is no longer required. When asked how proceeds would be recorded, staff said receipts would go to the electric revenue fund and could offset capital needs.

Board members pressed for numbers. Staff estimated they might recover "$100 to $125,000" for the unused transformer and "probably less than $50,000" for remaining 4 kV pieces. Jim noted the earlier purchased transformer cost about $80,000–$90,000 and that a correctly specified transformer is now estimated at about $213,000; the vendor quote to provide, install and integrate the system was presented at roughly $500,000.

A motion to approve Resolution 06 2026-01 authorizing the Power Secure contract was moved and seconded and approved by roll call. Michelle called the roll: "New Love — yes; Jesse — yes; Wagner — yes; Hogan — yes." A separate motion to approve Resolution 06 2026-02 authorizing the sale of surplus electrical equipment was also approved by roll call.

Brian, in the director’s report earlier in the meeting, gave a separate informational update about the city’s natural gas aggregation program, saying "the price did go up a little bit to 636 per CCF from the 0.575" for the upcoming Dec. 2026–Nov. 2028 aggregation term; he reiterated the program is opt-out and applies only to Columbia Gas customers.

The meeting record shows staff will proceed with the Power Secure contract and begin steps to market the unused transformer and remaining 4 kV equipment; receipts from any sales will be deposited into the electric revenue fund. No date for project completion was specified in the meeting record.