Public works seeks design contract, schedules Well No. 1 pump upgrade for Shelton

Aaron Hicks, Shelton’s assistant public works director, told the city council on July 1 that the Well No. 1 pressurization project is nearly complete and that staff plans to replace an aging pump and install variable frequency drives (VFDs) to improve pump life and energy use.

Hicks said the existing pump was installed in 1989 and that VFDs will reduce start/stop cycles and extend equipment life. “What these variable frequency drives… do is they basically change the voltage that goes into the pump and ramps it very slowly up and down to maintain a constant pressure,” Hicks said.

Hicks said the overall estimated project budget is $180,000, with roughly $70,000 for design work. He asked the council to place Resolution No. 1390‑0625 on the July 15 action agenda to allow staff to enter into a contract with the consultant engineering firm identified in the meeting materials. “This particular one, again, was a budgeted item in this year’s budget,” Hicks said.

Hicks offered to return with the item for formal action on the July 15 consent or action agenda and answered council questions about timing.

Why it matters: Replacing the pump and adding VFDs is intended to reduce operating costs and equipment downtime for a city water supply asset. The council was asked only to place the procurement resolution on a future agenda; no contract award or final authorization was recorded at the July 1 meeting.

Record and next steps: Councilmember moved to place Resolution No. 1390‑0625 on the July 15 action agenda; the formal contract and any procurement action will require subsequent council action and recorded approval.