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Commission validates city manager's emergency purchase of digger derrick for $264,215
Summary
After a digger derrick boom failure, the commission validated the city manager’s emergency purchase commitment for a 2025 Freightliner digger derrick at $264,215, to be funded from the electric department’s cash reserves.
The Garden City Commission on Aug. 19 validated the city manager’s emergency purchase commitment for a 2025 Freightliner M2106 digger derrick at a purchase price of $264,215.
A staff member from the electric department outlined the failure: during underground cable installation on Aug. 1 the boom on a 24-year-old digger derrick cracked and could not be repaired, and manufacturer consultation indicated the boom and possibly the turret required replacement. Repair estimates ranged from $30,000 to $65,000; staff concluded those repairs were not economically prudent for the 24-year-old chassis and located three replacement options.
Because one preferred replacement (the least expensive) required a factory hold commitment, the city manager approved an emergency purchase under the city’s financial management guidelines and notified the governing body on Aug. 8. The staff member explained the purchased unit will be delivered in September and that funding will come from the electric department’s cash reserves (estimated at $5.5 million). "The city manager did approve the emergency request… and notified the governing body on 08/08/2025," the staff member said.
Commissioners then moved to validate the city manager’s use of the emergency-purchase provision; the motion passed by voice vote.
