The Helena-West Helena City Council approved a $16,022 quote July 29 from vendor Tim Carver to fully repair two pumps at the Midland Heights pump station, part of a broader effort city staff described to remove rented bypass pumps and reduce recurring rental and fuel costs.

Water superintendent Mike Rose told the council the city has been renting bypass pumps and spending substantial amounts on rental fees, diesel and labor. Rose said the Tim Carver quote is for full repair work at the Midland Heights pump station, located off Valley Drive behind the Double Quick, and that the city plans staged repairs across its roughly nine pump stations.

Council action and financing: Council member Saint Columbia made the motion to approve the $16,022 expense; Council member Maxine Miller seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as five yes, one absence; the motion passed. Rose said the expense will come from water funds.

Why it matters: Rose said repairing stations will reduce ongoing rental and fuel costs. He estimated that fully repairing all pump stations could cost about $120,000 in parts, labor and supplies, though he called that an estimate and said costs could be higher or lower depending on conditions discovered at each station. He also said the city has paid large sums to the vendor Xylem for temporary rental pumps over the last 12 months.

Grant pursuit and payment terms: Rose said staff submitted a grant application to the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) seeking up to $75,000 to assist with pump repairs and that Tim Carver may require a 50%–75% upfront payment to order parts and schedule work. Rose said he would confirm exact financing terms with the vendor’s sales and credit departments before proceeding.

Implementation notes: Rose said repairs may require other contractors, including electricians and instrumentation specialists for submersible pumps; the city will assist with labor where possible. Council approved the $16,022 expense to begin the repair at Midland Heights.

Background: Rose said some stations had recently received parts or repairs before his tenure and that lightning strikes had damaged pumps at times, contributing to repeated bypass pump use. He described the approval as a first step in a multi-station rebuild effort intended to reduce rental costs and recurring emergency repairs.