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Kewaunee council commits remaining ARPA funds to generator purchases, favors commercial system
Summary
Council approved using remaining ARPA funds (proposals totaling $149,544.77 plus about $19,000 in additional estimated cost) to buy generators and authorized staff to proceed with the Total Energy Systems quotes, noting separate electrical hookup costs will be contracted separately.
The Kewaunee Common Council voted to commit the remainder of its ARPA allocation to purchase backup generators for city facilities, approving staff’s recommendation to proceed with Total Energy Systems' proposals while directing follow‑up on electrical hookup and warranty details.
Staff said the original ARPA proposals previously approved total $149,544.77. Follow‑up work determined the city‑hall generator estimate would need to be revised upward by roughly $19,000 to supply adequate capacity; public works and finance recommended selecting Total Energy Systems because their commercial‑grade units better match municipal needs, though Total Energy’s quotes exclude the electrical hookup labor and some site work. Staff clarified that electrical hookups (transfer switch wiring and master electrician work) are separate costs and will not be charged to ARPA. The ARPA funding line and accrued investment earnings in the ARPA fund will be used to pay the purchase price.
Council members pressed for warranty and installer responsibility: one asked whether a vendor that both supplies and wires the system is preferable so there is no “finger pointing” between vendor and electrician. Public works staff said transfer switches and switches are in the vendor specs but that wiring labor will be contracted separately and that vendors typically stand behind their products; committee experience also favored the Total Energy Systems product.
On the motion to approve the Total Energy Systems quotes and use ARPA funds (the listed ARPA proposals totaling $149,544.77 plus approximately $19,000 additional) to proceed, council voted in favor and the motion carried.
What this means: The city will proceed with procurement of generators designed for municipal use and will separately seek electrical contractors to perform master‑electrician wiring and hookups. Staff will follow up with additional warranty literature and formal installation estimates so council can review the extended warranty options before final acceptance.
Next steps: Staff will obtain formal electrical quotes and confirm extended‑warranty eligibility and will provide that information to council and public works prior to installation.
