Trappe council approves emergency purchase of diesel generator for water tower

The Trappe Town Council voted unanimously Sept. 11 to approve an emergency purchase of a diesel generator and installation work to replace a broken propane generator at the town water tower. Commissioner Jeremy Newnam moved to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay Kelly Generator and Bilbrough Electric a total of $63,400; Commissioner Michael Sullivan seconded and the motion passed without objection.

Town staff reported they solicited quotes from five companies and received two responding vendors. The record lists a Kelly Generator quote for a Generac 130 kW unit at $54,500 with delivery in six to eight weeks; General Power submitted a Perkins 130 kW quote for $52,051 plus shipping from Florida with a 12–14 week delivery timeframe, and a Perkins 150 kW unit in stock priced at $55,573 plus $2,273 shipping (total $57,846). Bilbrough Electric quoted $8,900 for the electrical work based on Kelly Generator specifications and said it would need a separate site visit to provide a quote tied to General Power’s specifications.

Commissioner Jeremy Newnam justified the recommendation by noting Kelly Generator is a local company with which the town is already under contract for generator services and familiarity with Trappe’s infrastructure; that rationale was included in the motion recorded in the minutes. The council did not record any roll-call objections; President Schmidt, Commissioner Rose Potter, Commissioner Jeremy Newnam and Commissioner Michael Sullivan approved the motion.

Town Administrator Erin Braband and Water/Wastewater Operator Shawn Lane were listed as attendees for the town during the special meeting; the minutes indicate staff organized the solicitation of quotes. The electrical contractor’s note that a site visit is required to price work to General Power’s specs suggests final installation pricing could change if the council had chosen the out-of-state option.

With the purchase approved, the council adjourned at 2:38 p.m.; the minutes were submitted by Town Administrator Erin Braband. The approved action authorizes staff to proceed with the emergency procurement and installation under the terms recorded in the meeting minutes.