Council moves to authorize immediate purchase of wheel loader in budgeted buy

Council President Dan Rospert and Assistant Public Service Director Jon Bellack presented Ordinance No. 26‑029, seeking authority for the Service Director to purchase a Caterpillar Model 926 14A wheel loader from Ohio CAT through a Sourcewell cooperative contract and to declare an emergency so the city can take immediate delivery.

Bellack said the loader matches existing city equipment and would replace a 2006 Volvo at the wastewater plant. He told Council the unit is on the dealer lot and "it was complete and ready." Bellack also explained Sourcewell pricing provides a substantial discount (a 24% Sourcewell reduction plus an additional 6% offered by Ohio CAT) and that the purchase was budgeted, with $210,000 in the capital plan. When Council members noted the purchase price exceeded the budgeted amount, Bellack said wastewater capital funds could transfer an extra $5,000 to cover the overage.

Council asked procurement questions, and Service Director Matt Hiscock explained how Sourcewell cooperative purchasing removes the need for the city to run its own bid process for that item because Sourcewell vendors have already been competitively procured. President Rospert asked Council Member Zach Berger to move suspension of the rules so the ordinance could proceed; Berger agreed and the clerk assigned Ordinance No. 26‑029 for consideration.