Levelland approves $283,040 payment for water‑meter project and authorizes purchase of replacement emergency‑management truck

Levelland — The Levelland City Council on Jan. 6 approved two procurement items: a payment to a contractor on the city’s water‑meter project and authorization to buy a replacement emergency‑management truck damaged in the May 2024 storm.

Payment to contractor: The council approved Payment Application No. 1 for Ambresco in the amount of $283,040.58 for work on the water‑meter project. City staff said the project financing will be addressed through certificates of obligation (to be considered Feb. 18); the city expects to reimburse the payment to itself once those funds are issued.

Replacement truck: Council also authorized the city manager to execute documents to purchase a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 4x4 crew cab work truck to replace the emergency‑management vehicle declared a total loss in the May 2024 storm. The city said it received $20,683 in insurance proceeds toward the loss and that the remaining purchase and prep costs total roughly $38,936; the county agreed to split the cost with the city and had approved its share earlier in the day.

Why it matters: The meter project is a multi‑phase utility upgrade; approving contractor payment keeps the work on schedule. Replacing the emergency‑management truck restores a vehicle used for storm response and coordination.

Council action: Both items were approved on motions, with staff noting the certificates of obligation process and interlocal purchasing procedures used for the vehicle purchase.

Quotable: On the meter payment, staff said once certificates of obligation are issued the city will reimburse itself for the advance payment. On the truck purchase, staff noted, “We received about $20,683 in insurance money for his existing truck. So that leaves about $32,936, to buy the vehicle. They're about another $6,000 to get this vehicle ready to go … which comes to about $38,936,” and that the county has agreed to share that cost.