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Plant seeks immediate pump purchase; owners increase 2026 pump line after noting delays
Summary
Plant staff told owners that equipment quotes and lead times delayed planned capital purchases; owners approved increasing the gas‑pump budget to $65,000 and directed staff to submit a transfer or PO if funds are available.
Plant staff told the joint owners on Sept. 11 they’ve delayed several capital purchases because earlier quotes became inadequate and vendor lead times lengthened. The plant asked owners to consider a budget transfer so a failing pump can be replaced this year rather than wait until 2026.
Superintendent Ron Warwick said a pump quoted six months earlier cost more when staff went to buy it, and the purchase request for a gas‑compression pump that was planned in 2025 remains encumbered but insufficient. “When I went to buy it in January, I didn't have enough money because it was based on a quote 6 months previous,” Warwick said. He told the board he plans to buy two smaller pumps in 2026 and one larger pump in 2027 to replace all gas compression pumps.
Owners agreed to increase the small‑pump line to $65,000 to provide a buffer for taxes and price increases and approved a motion to move that line to $65,000. Owners also urged staff to submit a budget transfer request so the plant can use available contingency or reserve funds to order a pump now if possible. Board members repeatedly asked staff for timeline details — which items are subject to long lead times and which can be ordered quickly — and asked for purchase orders to be returned for items that can be procured within weeks.
Several other capital projects remained unspent as of late July, plant staff said, including a bridge crane, methanol flame arrestors and microturbine work. Owners pressed staff for realistic procurement schedules and asked for updates before year‑end.
