Council approves Vesco rotary press purchase, large pay request and several water/wastewater expenses

City staff and the council approved procurement recommendations and construction payments for the city’s wastewater treatment project at the Oct. 8 Mulberry City Council meeting at City Hall.

Michael, an engineer from Moore (presented as “Michael from Moore”), and Kurt from the city’s water and sewer department reviewed vendor quotes for three major equipment items and recommended awarding a rotary press and an associated screw conveyor to Vesco. Moore recommended Vesco’s rotary press at $282,550 and a screw conveyor at $43,900; the council approved those awards.

Moore described the operational difference between the two technologies under consideration. “The screw press is kind of an auger like system that dries it out. The rotary press rotates it, through a screen multiple times and it dries out,” he said. Moore told the council that several bidders offered screw-press options, but staff preferred the rotary press after a site visit to a facility in Harrisburg and because staff judged it better suited to the project’s needs.

Council and staff agreed not to separately procure the polymer (thickening/flocculation) system at this time. Moore said several quotes were received but recommended the general contractor procure that item as part of the construction contract so the system matches field conditions and the contractor’s approach.

The council also approved other water/wastewater items presented that evening: a $15,800 quote from Obsidian Roofing to repair the roof on the blower/generator building at the wastewater treatment plant; pay request No. 7 to Preload for work on the water surge tank in the amount of $514,732.50; and a small change order of $645 to Moose Electric to supply and install a submersible transmitter at the decant lift station. Moore said the surge-tank dome and prestressing work is near completion and that the contractor hopes to finish the surge-tank project by late October or early November.

Staff also presented personnel actions for the water and sewer department that the council approved: hiring a new distribution and collections worker (Andrew) at $21 per hour effective Sept. 15, 2025, and a step increase for an existing employee, Nathan Schillingstad, from $23.55 to $23.80 effective Aug. 25, 2025.

Moore said the procured rotary press and conveyor would be specified in the city’s construction plans and will be installed under the general contractor when that contract is executed. “We’ll take and put [the chosen equipment] into our plans and specs, and then the general contractor that bids on the project will include these pieces of equipment on their bid,” Moore said.

Council members asked technical and procurement questions during the presentation and voted to approve the recommended awards and pay requests. No further public comment was recorded on these agenda items.