Del City council approves TSET grant applications, on‑call engineering contracts and new sanitation trucks; awards emergency sewer work

Del City’s City Council on Jan. 6 voted unanimously to seek two Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) grants for a pickleball court at the Del City Community Center and for free fitness classes at the center, authorized on‑call engineering contracts, approved emergency sewer repairs and cleared purchases of two new residential sanitation trucks.

The council approved resolution No. 01062025 to pledge matching funds for the TSET Innovations in the Built Environment grant and opened and then closed a public hearing on applying for two TSET grants. The council later adopted a finding that applying for the grants is in the city’s interest and directed staff to complete the required public input surveys.

City staff told the council the Innovations in the Built Environment grant is competitive with a maximum award of $80,000 and that the city’s matching funds (capped at $22,100) are intended to strengthen the application. Staff said the project would be shovel‑ready and able to start construction on Sept. 1, 2025, if funded. Staff recommended a single pickleball court beside the community center’s outdoor fitness area; 88 surveys had been received as of the meeting and 68 respondents supported the pickleball option, staff said. The second TSET opportunity, the Discovery Grant, could award up to $250,000 per year for up to three years and staff proposed using it to fund instructor salaries for free fitness and youth classes for an initial three‑year period.

Kelly, a city staff member who presented grant details, said the Innovations grant preference goes to projects that include matching funds and are shovel‑ready: “The matching funds that were approved by you moments ago … are not a requirement, but it is a preference for this grant in order to give us higher points,” she said. The council voted aye (Councilwoman Finch, Councilwoman Brown, Councilman Scott Tatum, Councilman Dean and Mayor Floyd A. Eason) on both the resolution and the finding to proceed with applications and public outreach.

On contracts and professional services, the council approved task‑based, on‑call professional services agreements with multiple firms to provide architecture, engineering and surveying. The agreements, as described at the meeting, have a term not to exceed one year and specify that compensation for each task will be negotiated with a not‑to‑exceed cap of $50,000 per task. City planner Andrew Myers explained the vendor list is intended to speed responses to short‑notice engineering needs and to let staff obtain technical reviews without bringing each small engagement back to council. The council vote to authorize staff to use the qualified firms carried unanimously.

During the Municipal Services Authority session the trustees approved an emergency replacement of approximately 265 feet of sewer line on Del Rancho, awarding the contract to Urban Contractors for an amount not to exceed $50,400. Staff said the work will be funded from sewer capital outlay fees, restricted funds intended for infrastructure repair.

The council also approved declaring surplus two older police vehicles and ratified a single abatement charge of $719.54 for cleanup at 509 Leslie under Del City code sections 13‑106 through 13‑114. The abatement assessment passed on a roll‑call vote recorded as aye by Councilman Tatum, Councilman Brown, Councilman Dean, Councilman Finch and the mayor.

Sanitation purchases were a major item. The council approved buying two Conn Curb Master 28‑yard side‑loader compactor bodies (compactor bodies only) from United Engines for an amount not to exceed $400,000 (two at $200,000 each) through state contract SW‑00197, and approved purchase of two Battle Motor LET‑2 cab chassis from Holt Truck Centers for an amount not to exceed $398,000 (two at $199,000 each) through state contract SW‑00335T. Director Perrett and sanitation staff told the council those purchases will replace aging trucks and reduce ongoing repair costs; city fleet records cited at the meeting showed approximately $149,777 in repair costs over the prior 12 months on the existing residential trucks.

Council discussion also covered notice and neighbor outreach for the proposed pickleball court, lighting and hours of operation near nearby homes, and options to pair the court with programs such as low‑cost classes and equipment rental at the community center. Several council members and members of the public suggested alternate park projects (disc golf, splash pad, Cheyenne Park improvements) and staff said Ray Trent Park will undergo a master parks and trails planning process funded by a separate TSET award the city previously received.

Votes at a glance - Resolution No. 01062025 (pledge matching funds for TSET Innovations in the Built Environment grant): approved (Council votes: Finch aye; Brown aye; Tatum aye; Dean aye; Mayor Eason aye). - Hold public hearing and apply for two TSET grants (pickleball court and free fitness classes): approved (same roll‑call). - Make finding that applying for grants serves city health interests and seek required public input via surveys: approved. - Approve task‑based on‑call professional services vendor list (per‑task cap $50,000, term ≤1 year): approved. - Emergency sewer line replacement (Del Rancho): award to Urban Contractors, not to exceed $50,400 (funded from sewer capital outlay fees): approved. - Assess abatement cost $719.54 to property at 509 Leslie per Del City code §§13‑106 to 13‑114: approved. - Purchase two Conn Curb Master 28‑yard side‑loader compactor bodies from United Engines, not to exceed $400,000 (total): approved. - Purchase two Battle Motor LET‑2 cab chassis from Holt Truck Centers, not to exceed $398,000 (total): approved.

Why it matters The TSET grants would fund low‑cost recreation and fitness services aimed at obesity prevention and public health; city staff emphasized the grants’ health objectives and the need for matching funds and shovel‑ready projects to compete for awards. The on‑call engineering list and new sanitation trucks were presented as operational needs meant to speed infrastructure repairs, improve permitting support and reduce long‑term repair spending on aging equipment. The emergency sewer award addresses an immediate public‑health infrastructure repair that staff said must proceed quickly.

What’s next Staff will complete TSET grant applications (deadlines cited as Feb. 12, 2025), conduct the required neighborhood surveys and, if the grants are awarded, proceed with design and construction per the grant timelines. Sanitation staff and public works will begin procurement and scheduling for truck builds (council was told chassis builds are expected in a fourth‑quarter production window) and will manage the emergency sewer contractor to complete the Del Rancho replacement.