Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Slayton council approves purchase of stationary dehumidifier for fire hall
Summary
After debating portable vs. stationary units and budget timing, council approved purchase of the higher-capacity stationary dehumidifier (quoted about $5,100) for the fire hall and discussed funding options including the 2026 budget and the fire equipment fund.
Councilors revisited a previously tabled request to install a dehumidifier in the fire hall, discussing multiple equipment options and funding timelines before approving staff’s recommendation for a stationary unit.
Staff described alternatives: portable '195' units (plug-in, roughly 200 pints/day) versus a larger stationary 240V unit (quoted at about $5,100). Members weighed portability against capacity, filter and maintenance costs, installation wiring and drain-line needs, and whether to wait for the 2026 budget or fund the purchase from existing reserves. Staff noted the fire equipment fund could be an appropriate place to budget the purchase.
Council members pressed practical points—how the units drain, whether condensate pumps are required, where a stationary unit might be hung or sited to allow easier filter changes, and the life-cycle benefits of controlling humidity in the building. One councilor argued the stationary unit would remove more pints per day and likely prolong the building’s life; another favored the cheaper portable option for flexibility. The motion to proceed with the stationary 240V unit recommended by staff passed on a voice vote.
What this means: the city will move forward with procuring the stationary dehumidifier and staff will coordinate installation details and final funding. Several members asked staff to finalize installation costs (wiring and plumbing) before purchase and to confirm whether filters and replacement schedules were included in the vendor quote.
