Committee approves $548,756 purchase of material handler for Del Norte transfer station

The Oxford Public Works and Transportation Committee voted 3-0 on March 25 to recommend that City Council approve a purchase order with Quinn Company for $548,756.31 to buy a material handler for the Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer Station.

Committee members and staff said the machine will improve sorting efficiency, reduce wear on existing equipment and increase employee safety. Brian Ioannis, assistant public works director, introduced the item and identified staff who worked on the procurement: Eric Zetz, division manager for environmental resources, and James Torres, the facility’s material recycling facility (MRF) manager.

“This waste handler will be a great benefit to our our facility,” James Torres said, explaining current operations use 950 wheel loaders and small skid steers that require skill to “feather” material onto the conveyor. He said the new machine “acts more like an excavator with a grappler so it'll pick up and drop in place in certain locations of the trailer to even the loads” and will make feeding the sorting line smoother. Torres added the machine includes load cells so “the operator inside the cab can see the actual number and how close he's getting to that magic number that we want to hit.”

Ioannis said staff had pursued grant funding and other purchase options and introduced the MRF staff who will use the machine. Committee members also noted a procurement cost savings: staff said a Sourcewell cooperative piggyback allowed a 26% discount, a savings of $174,555 to the city.

There were no public speakers on the item. A committee member moved approval and another seconded; the clerk recorded votes from Committee member Basula (Aye), Committee member Teran (Yes) and Chair McArthur (Yes). The motion carried 3-0.

The committee recommended the purchase order be placed on a City Council consent or action calendar for final authorization and for the mayor to execute the purchase order if council approves. Staff said the machine will be used day-to-day at Del Norte to improve diversion and sorting operations and to reduce wear on older conveyors and loaders.

No ordinances or code changes were proposed as part of the item; the action was an equipment procurement and funding authorization recommendation to council.