MLGW asks council to approve $7 million in purchases including chemicals, equipment and HR offer

Doug McGowan, representing Memphis Light, Gas & Water, asked the council to approve five fiscal consent items totaling about $7 million — bringing MLGW’s annual purchasing plan to roughly $96 million. McGowan said the first two purchases relate to water treatment: fluorosilicic acid (fluoride) at $810,000 over two years and sodium hypochlorite (a disinfectant) at $4.5 million over three years. He emphasized fluoride is a Memphis City Council mandate and described MLGW’s testing program (about 40,000 tests a year) and the small dilutions used in treatment. The disinfectant purchase covers routine residual chlorine used to protect the distribution system.

The package also included a landscaping contract extension (about $814,000) to restore yards and substation grounds after utility work, purchase of two mini digger derricks with trailers (about $580,000) to access rear-yard service locations, and approval to extend a final offer for a VP of Human Resources with a proposed midpoint salary of $234,000 to remain competitive in the market. Council members asked technical questions about product concentrations, equipment life cycles and replacement plans; McGowan said the sodium hypochlorite supply is typically a 10–12% solution and heavy equipment is replaced on roughly a 10–15 year guideline.

Council voiced routine follow-ups rather than opposition. The consent items were presented as routine procurement and staffing approvals; questions focused on operational details and budgetary impacts rather than policy disputes. The MLGW representative committed to supply additional technical details to council staff on request.

Provenance: presentation and Q&A led by Doug McGowan (SEG 011–SEG 110).