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Albany Utility Board approves fleet and plant equipment purchases, repairs
Summary
The board approved five purchase and repair contracts — fuel dispensers, a soft starter for a wastewater blower, a Well 13 pump replacement, a wastewater-plant pump repair and a Godwin 6-inch pump — totaling roughly $289,700 and approved vendor selection and warranty details.
The Albany Utility Board on Oct. 9 approved five contracts to replace and repair fleet and utility equipment, totaling roughly $289,600.
Fleet staff asked the board to authorize purchase of five diesel dispenser units — two high-speed and two regular dispensers at 1900 Northman Road and three twin dispensers at 1726 Lily Pond — for $86,012.72 from Barber Equipment of Albany. "This purchase order is requested by fleet for the replacement of the 2 dispensers," a fleet representative told the board, explaining Barber is a local vendor with prior performance history. Board members asked about warranty coverage; staff said the dispensers carry a one-year warranty and that Barber will provide service and parts support.
Separately, the board approved a $44,710 purchase for a Benshaw-series solid-state soft starter to replace the unit on wastewater blower No. 3. The consultant ESG recommended the unit and the product includes a three-year exclusive warranty, staff said.
For water operations, the board authorized a $46,930 contract with Donald Smith Company of Hedland, Alabama, to replace a failing pump at Well 13 after diagnostics showed the existing unit could not be repaired. Water staff described the work as a critical replacement for downtown water service.
At the wastewater plant, the board approved a $58,683.92 repair contract with Waco Electric Supply to restore a large pump. Staff said a full replacement would cost roughly $200,000 and that the repair is expected to extend service life by about four to five years.
Finally, fleet will purchase a 6-inch Godwin pump from Xylem Dewatering Solutions (Cartersville, Ga.) under a Florida Sheriffs Association cooperative purchasing contract for $53,276.81. Staff noted freight and a 12‑month/2,000‑hour warranty are included and requested the replaced unit be declared surplus.
All five items were moved, seconded and approved by roll call. Board members said they favored using local vendors when feasible and asked staff to track lifecycle and maintenance costs for aging pumps and dispensers.
The vendors and warranty details listed above were stated in presentations to the board; staff said some work had already begun on emergency repairs. The board did not vote on any new policy changes during the item.
The board will forward the Godwin pump purchase and other items to the city commission as required by procedure.
