Georgetown council approves purchase orders, IT upgrades and multiple City Hall change orders; police to order 17 vehicles

Georgetown City Council on Jan. 28 approved a series of municipal orders and contract changes affecting the city’s utilities, information-technology systems and ongoing City Hall construction, and authorized the police department to order 17 replacement vehicles.

The bulk of the meeting’s formal business focused on capital spending and project wrap-up for the City Hall construction contract with Codell, upgrades at municipal pump stations, and upgrades to the city’s security and network systems. Council members moved and approved each item by voice vote; several items drew one or more recorded nays and staff said midyear budget amendments will incorporate the approved spending.

Votes at a glance

- Southern Sales Company — $11,195: Council approved a purchase order for a level-control panel at the Derby pump station, which staff said was budgeted and competitively procured. The item was introduced by a GMWSS representative and approved by voice vote.

- Judy Construction Company — $272,646: Council approved pay application No. 57 for the water-system upgrade/expansion project, covering work completed in December; staff said substantial completion remains later this year.

- Forward Edge cameras and access-control system — $104,005.50: Finance staff said the quote for cameras and access control came in at $104,005.50 and that roughly $88,000 additional funding will be requested in a budget amendment. Stacy, the staff presenter, told council, “this quote came in at a $104,005.50, and so we need to add about additional 88,000 into the budget.” The municipal order carried after a recorded nay.

- Netgain network equipment and professional services — $92,006.17: Staff described this as necessary replacement of end-of-life firewalls and switches and said $72,000 is available in the IT capital-projects line after deferring a disaster-recovery project; a $21,000 midyear amendment will cover the remainder. Council approved the item; staff said the cybersecurity assessment remains planned for this fiscal year.

- Codell City Hall change orders (14–17): Council considered multiple contract adjustments as the project nears completion. Change Order 14 is a credit of just over $40,000 removing additional asphalt scope so the city can pursue full-lot paving later; staff said that credit plus a previous credit brings asphalt-related credits to just under $75,000. Change Order 15 (about $3,800) covers owner-requested access-control relocations and an ADA button relocation to comply with Kentucky Heritage Council requirements. Change Order 16 relocates a waterline to East Court Street to accommodate a fire-department connection; staff said the work requires additional excavation and they are discussing potential cost-sharing with Georgetown Municipal. Change Order 17 is a credit just under $14,500 related to reordered windows; staff reported the project contingency is now roughly $362,517.

- Police municipal order — Enterprise Fleet Management (17 vehicles): The police department requested permission to order 17 vehicles (16 frontline replacements and one to replace a totaled 2025 unit). Staff said delivery would likely occur after July 1, 2026, and that the purchase will be reflected in the midyear budget amendment. Council approved the request.

Why it matters

Council approvals move several near-term city projects forward: replacement equipment at the Derby pump station, progress payments on the water system expansion, consolidation of the City Hall construction closeout with credits and targeted change orders, and upgrades to city security and network infrastructure. Staff repeatedly told council that final, consolidated budget amendments and a final change-order summary will return at a future meeting before purchases and furniture procurement are finalized.

What council asked staff to follow up on

Councilmembers asked for a concise accounting of how the recent change orders affect the project contingency and requested a memo showing the expected final cost and contingency position. For the waterline relocation (change order 16) councilmembers asked staff to report whether any cost-sharing with Georgetown Municipal is available. For IT purchases, staff said they will include the necessary additions in the upcoming midyear budget amendment.

Next steps

Staff said the midyear budget amendment and a consolidated change-order summary will be presented at the next council meeting; purchases that could be budgeted or delayed pending the amendment will be scheduled so statutory budget requirements are met.