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Wichita Falls council approves multiple equipment purchases, contracts and grant applications
Summary
At its Oct. 15 meeting, the Wichita Falls City Council approved a package of purchases and agreements — including sanitation trucks, a landfill grinder, sports‑complex turf, landfill engineering services and a paramedic training agreement — and authorized pursuit of a DOJ Edward Byrne JAG grant.
The Wichita Falls City Council on Oct. 15 approved a series of budgeted purchases, professional services agreements and grant actions intended to maintain city services and support planned capital work.
Council approved procurement actions for sanitation and landfill operations, including the purchase of two automated side‑loader solid‑waste collection trucks from Bond Equipment Company for $859,706 and a Vermeer HG68100TX horizontal grinder through the Sourcewell cooperative for $1,370,408 to support compost and green‑material processing. Public Works staff said the grinder replaces a unit that has been frequently out of service and will help reduce landfill gas emissions by diverting organics to composting. The council also renewed a 20‑year professional services agreement with Biggs & Matthews Environmental Inc. for landfill engineering services at $78,000.
Parks staff won approval to proceed with installing synthetic turf on four south fields at the Wichita Falls Sports Complex by Hellas Construction Inc. at a contract price of $3,687,380. Staff said the city previously invested in one turf complex (bonded with ARPA and local 4B funds) and estimated about $5 million in economic impact over two seasons from tournament activity; councilors emphasized follow‑on improvements such as restrooms and shade.
Under public‑safety items, the council approved authorization for the acting city manager to execute documents to provide paramedic training through Texas EMS School (Maxon Education LLC d/b/a Texas EMS School) under an Assistance to Firefighters grant for $169,560. Fire staff described a hybrid 1,100‑hour program expected to start in January with a 10–12 month completion window and said the plan would build local training capacity and identify future instructors from within the department.
The council also gave staff approval to apply for the FY2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (approximately $34,017) with the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office as co‑applicant; police staff said the city’s share would fund equipment such as a utility task vehicle for event and downtown crowd movements.
All motions were approved without recorded roll‑call tallies in the audio transcript provided. Several council members thanked staff for budget planning that covered these items and noted that vehicle and equipment availability influenced vendor selection. No additional public controversy was recorded around these votes.
Next steps: staff will execute vendor contracts and move forward with procurement and scheduling, with the parks turf project targeted for completion in time for next spring’s tournament season.
