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Council approves $591,604 turbine inspection contract and adopts utility salary ordinance with new positions
Summary
The council awarded HPI the lowest bid ($591,604.64) for a major turbine/generator inspection at the Lon D. Wright Generating Station and adopted Ordinance 5740 updating the utility pay plan—adding a safety director and an energy analyst and correcting a GIS analyst pay grade—by unanimous votes.
The Fremont City Council approved two utility-related items Tuesday night: awarding a turbine and generator inspection contract to HPI for Unit 7 at the Lon D. Wright Generating Station and adopting Ordinance 5740, which updates the utility pay plan.
Jeff Shanahan, the city’s utility manager, said the unit is due for a major overhaul inspection after roughly 40,000 hours of operation. The city solicited bids and received four responses; HPI was the lowest bidder at $591,604.64. "Staff is recommending that we award HPI the contract," Shanahan told the council. The work is expected to take place in fall 2026 and may span two fiscal years. Council approved the contract 8–0.
Separately, Jennifer McDuffee, director of human resources, presented Ordinance 5740, which would add a budgeted Safety Director position, rename the Automotive Maintenance Supervisor title to Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, and create an Energy Analyst classification to replace a currently budgeted position without changing pay grade or the budgeted cost. Staff also identified a scrivener’s error: the GIS Analyst pay grade was listed incorrectly and was amended from 21.5 to 24.0 during council action. Councilman Horner moved to amend the pay-grade error; Councilman Jensen seconded and the amendment passed. The council then voted to suspend the rules to advance to third and final reading and adopted the ordinance on final vote 8–0.
What’s next: the HPI contract will be scheduled for work in fall 2026; HR and utility staff will implement the new classification and update payroll records to reflect the ordinance changes.
