Johnson County Wastewater asked the board July 17 to authorize an increase of $750,000 in aggregate contract authority for a group of vendors that provide wastewater equipment repair services under IFB 2021, bringing the current contract-year aggregate cap to $2.5 million. Aaron Witt, speaking for Wastewater operations, said no new appropriation was requested; the request increases the spending authority within the existing budget.

Witt said the contract covers repair of pumps, motors, electrical equipment and similar assets and includes a 24-hour service clause to respond to critical equipment failures. Through May, the department had used about 80% of the current contract authority, he said, and unplanned repairs of larger assets plus general inflation drove the request.

Commissioners discussed whether policy changes on department purchasing thresholds or administrative flexibility could reduce the need for frequent board-level approvals in future years. Wastewater staff said they are preparing to bid a new contract later this year and asked that the board authorize the increased authority to maintain operations through the remainder of the contract term, which ends in November. No formal vote was recorded July 17.