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Council authorizes $240,000 design contract for VFD replacement at Lake Palestine plant
Summary
City authorized HDR Inc. professional services contract for $240,000 to design replacement of six variable frequency drives at the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant; construction estimated at ~$4 million with expected completion in August 2026.
The Tyler City Council authorized the city manager to execute a professional services contract with HDR Inc. for $240,000 to design the replacement of variable frequency drives (VFDs) at the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant and related HVAC upgrades. Council approved a resolution reserving the right to reimburse the project from future debt.
Project engineer Nikki Ingram told the council the plant has capacity to treat 30 million gallons per day and that VFDs control pump speeds and water flow. She said one VFD failed in 2024 and was replaced under emergency conditions; the remaining VFDs have reached the end of their useful life (10 to 15 years). The design contract covers the remaining six VFDs serving the raw water pump station and high service pump station, potential HVAC upgrades in the VFD building to prevent overheating, and construction-phase services.
Ingram presented an opinion of probable construction cost of $4,000,000, a proposed design start in March 2025, final design by May 2025, bidding June–July 2025, construction start July 2025, and completion by August 2026. She recommended council authorize the city manager to execute the $240,000 HDR contract and adopt a reimbursement resolution. Councilmember Curtis moved approval; Councilmember McKellar seconded and the motion carried.
Staff noted the urgency given prior VFD failure and the centrality of the drives to plant operation: "Without the VFDs, the plant cannot function," Ingram said in her presentation.
