Warrenton board approves budget adjustments, agrees to cooperative purchase for WWTP tractor

City staff told the Board of Aldermen on Oct. 1 that two stormwater projects for Veterans Memorial were bid at less than expected and that grant reimbursements will reduce net project costs, freeing funds for other needs. Brandy Walters, serving as city administrator for the meeting, described the bids and proposed using remaining budgeted funds for equipment, sewer-camera repairs and pipe lining.

"When they bid the projects out it only came in at $768,565," Walters said, describing total original costs of $1,077,189 for two related projects and noting anticipated grant reimbursements of about $570,000. Walters said staff recommended a budget adjustment and proposed some interim purchases—camera repairs ($15,000), possibly one or two Public Works vehicles ($45,000) and a tractor for the wastewater treatment plant quoted at $207,210.60—while awaiting final grant reimbursements.

Board members asked procurement questions; Walters said the tractor would be purchased through a cooperative program so the city would not need to run its own bidding process. The board moved and approved a budget adjustment for the Veterans Memorial stormwater work and then approved a cooperative purchase of a tractor for the wastewater treatment plant. The tractor motion (cooperative purchase) was made by Alderman Roemaker, seconded by Alderman Lang, and the roll call resulted in a 5–0 vote.

Walters said staff intends to avoid spending all available funds until grant reimbursements are confirmed but requested authorization to proceed with the top-priority purchases now (camera repairs, tractor and possibly a vehicle). No amendments to the purchases were recorded during the meeting; procurement will follow cooperative purchasing rules as described.