Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reviews $21,000 backhoe purchase and $35,000 engineering proposal for pump-station upgrades
Summary
Staff proposed buying a used backhoe for $21,000 by reallocating about one-third of 2026 pump-replacement funds and reported CHA submitted a $35,000 engineering proposal to replace pump guide rails at the East Side Lift Station; staff said a resolution to accept the engineering agreement will be prepared.
Pataskala City utilities staff presented two capital items and asked the committee for feedback Thursday: purchase of a used backhoe and engineering work on East Side Lift Station pump rails.
Jeremy said the department's current backhoe is an older Case model that has seen better days and that staff identified a used replacement from South Houston Equipment for $21,000. He told members comparable machines range from roughly $38,000 to $65,000 and said he could purchase the unit by reallocating funds set aside for the 2026 pump-replacement program. "I think $21,000 is a really good price," Jeremy said.
A committee member noted the reallocation would represent roughly one-third of the pump-replacement funds and cautioned about the risk if pumps fail later in the year. "You'd be reallocating about a third of the pump replacement funds," the committee member observed; members agreed to monitor pump condition before finalizing any transfer of funds.
Jeremy also reported he solicited engineering proposals to replace guide rails and pump bases at the East Side Lift Station; CHA submitted the lowest responsive proposal at $35,000. He said the dollar amount is below the formal bid threshold, that he reached out to multiple firms to obtain quotes, and that staff will prepare a resolution to accept the agreement for a future meeting.
No formal committee vote was taken on the backhoe purchase or the engineering agreement at this meeting. Staff said they will bring any formal contract or resolution forward once final funding and procurement steps are confirmed.
