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Hickman approves purchase of two 150 kW diesel generators for municipal wells after recent outage
Summary
After recent low-water incidents and a power outage that stressed the system, Hickman’s council approved buying two 150 kW diesel standby generators (one for well 3 and one for well 4) to provide emergency pumping capacity; staff said units are in stock and discussed trade-in and discount options.
The Hickman City Council voted on Aug. 26 to purchase two 150-kilowatt diesel standby generators to provide emergency power for municipal wells three and four, citing recent outages and concerns about water supply during extended power interruptions.
Public Works Superintendent Wade and City Administrator Kelly told the council the units discussed are in stock and can be installed quickly; the quoted price discussed at the meeting was $98,190 per generator with an additional concrete pad cost of roughly $4,620 per site. The vendor offered a $5,000 discount if both generators are purchased and a $15,000 trade-in allowance for the existing portable unit.
Wade described the practical effect of on-site standby power: an automated transfer switch would permit the generator to run pumps in the event of a power outage, reducing the need for manual start-up or a multi-day delay in restoring pumping capability. "If we have another power outage and we lose water service from our wells, that would be an emergency," Wade said when the council discussed urgency and inventory availability.
Council debated whether to buy one now and add a second later or purchase both to secure the vendor discount; staff said the water fund could cover the purchases without altering the tax request. The motion to buy both generators passed on roll call.
City staff will coordinate concrete pad installation, final wiring and transfer-switch procurement with the vendor and will return to council with confirmed installation schedules.
