Council approves engineering study to plan Burdick Station generation expansion

The City Council approved a contract to hire engineering services to evaluate and begin the interconnection process for new generation at the Burdick Station site.

City staff said the recommended firm, Burns & Mc (identified in the packet as a leader in the industry), will perform a study to recommend generator types, enter those options into the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) portal for analysis and then, if directed by council, continue with design and procurement support. The council approved resolution 2025‑302 to start the analysis phase.

Public comment asked how the city intends to pay for an estimated $100 million buildout that appeared in the meeting packet; a resident asked whether the project would compete with other big needs like school rebuilding. Staff said the engineering contract before council covers only the analysis/design phase. Staff estimated a range of future costs in the packet — the $100 million estimate tied to a fuller buildout option — and described options to phase the work and to repurpose debt service that is scheduled to expire in 2028 to help pay for future debt service if council pursues full buildout.

Staff also warned that lead times for generators and substation transformers can be long — five to six years was cited for certain equipment — and the council discussed a 2031 target timeline for bringing generation online. Council member Doug Hossy recalled the city’s previous large-generation investment (Platt Generating Station) and said that the council had previously paid off a large plant over time; other members emphasized this is the first step in a longer process.

Council member Hossy moved approval and Council member O'Neil seconded. The motion passed.