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Utility board approves five equipment contracts, recommends city consideration on pump purchase
Summary
The Albany Utility Board on Oct. 9 authorized five equipment purchases and repairs — fuel dispensers, a soft starter, two well/wastewater pumps, and a Godwin trailer pump — and will forward one purchase (Godwin pump) for city commission approval. Total individual contract amounts were presented by staff and approved by roll call.
The Albany Utility Board voted Thursday to authorize five equipment purchases and repairs the utility said are needed to maintain operations and respond to storm events.
Board members approved a purchase of five fuel dispenser units from Barber Equipment of Albany for $86,012.72 to replace aging fuel pumps that staff said are difficult to maintain and broken parts are no longer available. Fleet staff told the board the vendor has performed past service and the new units carry a one‑year warranty.
The board also approved a $44,710 purchase of a Benshaw series soft starter from Diverse Fab Works for a wastewater plant blower on staff recommendation; the product carries an exclusive three‑year warranty, and the item was recommended by the utility’s maintenance contractor, ESG.
A critical replacement for Well No. 13 was authorized with a $46,930 contract to Donald Smith Company of Hedland, Alabama, after staff said the pump could not be repaired and downtown customers (including a hospital) rely on the two pumps that serve the sector. Staff characterized the work as time‑sensitive and justified awarding the contract without a competitive bid due to emergency operational risk.
At the wastewater treatment plant, the board approved a $58,683.92 repair by Waco Electric Supply on a large pump; staff said repair is far less costly than full replacement (estimated at roughly $200,000) and could extend service life by about four to five years.
Finally, the board authorized purchase of a 6‑inch Godwin pump from Xylem Dewatering Solutions (Cartersville, Georgia) under a Florida Sheriffs Association cooperative contract for $53,276.81 and voted to recommend that purchase for city commission approval. Staff said the city maintains seven such pumps and keeps spares to respond to flooding and sewer overflow events.
All motions passed on roll call. The board’s presentations included questions about warranties, life expectancy, competitive procurement and the tradeoffs between rebuilding and full replacement.
