La Porte board approves moving forward on up to $716,000 in water department equipment purchases

The City of La Porte Board of Public Works and Safety on Oct. 21 approved staff’s request to proceed with acquisition planning and vendor selection for water-department equipment that staff described as “about $716,000” in total quotes.

Tucker King, who presented the item, told the board the package includes three large pieces of equipment, attachments and two trailers. “In total I guess it comes out to about $716,000 worth of equipment,” King said, explaining that the purchases would replace a backhoe, add a skid steer and add a mini excavator to expand the department’s capacity for service-line work.

King said the purchases were included in the water capital plan and that some departments and partners had offered to share costs. “Jerry said that he would be willing to pay for half of an excavator out of [wastewater] in exchange for service,” King said. He also said staff had explored cost-sharing with RDC for work done in the RDC district.

Engineering and finance staff described the quotes as Sourcewell-sourced quotes that allow selection of suitable equipment. Nick Minnick, engineering, said the purchases reflect lessons from recent work including the 39 North extension and Park Street projects, where rental needs had been heavy.

The board approved the request by voice vote. The approval authorized staff to proceed with vendor selection and purchases within the capital plan and to continue negotiations on cost-sharing; no single-vendor contract or final purchase price was adopted at the meeting.

Budget and next steps: Staff said funds are available in the water capital account and that a subsequent procurement action or purchase authorization will follow once vendor selection and any cost-sharing agreements are finalized.