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Fillmore authorizes urgent motor replacement at Well No. 8 and funding transfer
Summary
After a catastrophic motor failure at Well No. 8, the council approved an appropriation of $54,858.34 from the Water Reserve Fund and a contract amendment for General Pump Company not to exceed $217,806.34 to replace the motor and perform related work, including a planned in-well video inspection.
The Fillmore City Council approved urgent repairs at Well No. 8, including a motor replacement and associated installation work, after staff reported a catastrophic motor failure during recent testing.
Public works staff said the motor "grenaded" during a pump-to-waste test, producing internal metal-on-metal damage; the motor is an older model and staff recommended replacement with a newer, more efficient motor that enables SCADA-compatible sensors and variable-speed operation in the future. Staff also proposed a dynamic in-well video inspection once the new motor is installed to investigate possible air entrainment issues in the aquifer.
Council approved an appropriation of $54,858.34 from the Water Reserve Fund and a first amendment to the General Pump Company contract to purchase and install a new motor, with a total contract not to exceed $217,806.34, in a form approved by the city attorney. Staff emphasized that while the motor replacement has material installation costs, the investment will increase efficiency and allow future remote sensing capabilities.
What to expect: staff will oversee installation under the amended contract, complete video inspection work to better understand the well's hydraulics, and report back on any additional maintenance or operational recommendations.
Reporting note: dollar amounts and the contract cap are taken from the staff motion as read into the public record.
