Scofield council approves $35,853 three-phase power installation to reduce pump maintenance

Scofield Town Council voted April 14 to approve moving forward with a three-phase power installation to the town pump site, accepting a balance due of $35,853.24 for the work.

The decision follows a presentation by Paul Giacoletto, the meeting’s invited presenter, who told council members three-phase power would provide constant power to sewer pumps, reduce wear and tear and extend pump life. The council approved the project by voice vote; no dissenting votes were recorded.

Giacoletto told the council three-phase pumps last substantially longer than single-phase units and require less maintenance. “Probably twice as long,” he said when asked how much longer pumps on three-phase power typically last. He said three-phase pumps cost only modestly more up front—about $300 more per pump in one comparison—while single-phase installations typically require capacitors and potential relays that add roughly $1,000 to the installation and complicate maintenance.

Why this matters: Scofield’s sewer pumps have required repeated, sometimes costly repairs in prior years; council members and the presenter argued that reduced downtime and longer service life could produce long-term savings despite an up-front cost. Giacoletto said the town already has some infrastructure in place and that much of the on-site work could use town equipment; he provided a written bid showing a contract figure and a “balance due” amount the council accepted. The contract’s paperwork indicated a 90-day period in which the contractor would hold pricing.

Details from the presentation and council discussion include: - Cost and procurement: The council heard a contractor balance due of $35,853.24 for the three-phase installation; an earlier line on the paperwork showed $36,103.24 in a different place, which council members reviewed on the record before the motion. The council approved the $35,853.24 figure that was presented as the balance due. - Equipment and parts: Giacoletto said three-phase pumps themselves might be only slightly more expensive than single-phase pumps but that the single-phase option requires additional starting equipment (capacitors and potential relays) that are increasingly hard to source. He told the council single-phase replacement parts were becoming scarce and sometimes costly to rebuild; he cited examples of older relay/control parts that were obsolete or expensive to refurbish. - Operational advantages: Giacoletto and council members described constant power from three-phase service as reducing start-up current spikes that stress pumps and controllers. He said a variable-frequency drive (VFD) is not recommended for the grinder-style pumps Scofield uses because a soft start can increase clogging risk. - Funding and payback: Council members noted the town’s utilities fund holds the money for the project and that some operating revenue from nearby industrial customers (referred to in the meeting as “Skyline Line” O&M payments of about $15,000 per year) could offset costs. Several council members said they expected a multi-year payback but argued the investment would reduce recurring repairs and emergency costs.

Council comment and vote: Council member Melissa Holloway said, “3 phase sounds like a much better deal to me,” and other members voiced support before a motion was made and seconded. The motion—stated on the record as to proceed with the three-phase installation at $35,853.24—was approved by voice vote with no dissent recorded.

Votes at a glance (actions taken during the April 14 meeting): - Accept minutes from March 10, 2025 — motion made and approved by voice vote. - Accept Scofield Town Council special meeting minutes of April 7, 2025 — motion made and approved by voice vote. - Pay bills (general disbursements) — motion made and approved by voice vote. - Approve three-phase power installation (balance due $35,853.24) — motion made and approved by voice vote; council authorized signing contract paperwork on the spot. - Adjourn meeting — motion made and approved by voice vote.

What remains: Giacoletto said the council would need to decide placement of the meter and panel and to confirm conduit and pole work; he offered to provide a further written breakdown of what was and was not included in the contractor paperwork. The council authorized the chair to sign the paperwork and directed staff to return contract documents to the contractor.

The council’s next steps include finalizing exact installation details, clarifying any remaining upstream conduit or pole work with the power company, and scheduling the on-site work once the contractor is given written authorization.