City of Sturgis acquiring excavator to aid in service line replacements for $149K
Director of Public Works Thomas Sikorski says the equipment will be critical as there’s greater responsibility to replace lead service lines.
The Sturgis City Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to approve purchasing a “critcial” mini excavator for water service work.
Commissioners voted 6-0 for the $149,379 purchase of a 2024 Caterpillar Model 308 ARQWZ1 mini excavator from MacAllister CAT. They also approved trading in a John Deere 27ZTS (Unit 631-04) for $13,500. The mini excavator purchase is included in the fiscal year (FY) 2024-2025 motor vehicle purchases budget.
“This excavator is a replacement for a current unit used to do a variety of tasks, but primarily water service work,” Director of Public Works Thomas Sikorski wrote. “With greater responsibilities on (the Department of Public Services) for the replacement of lead service lines now and over the next 10 years, this equipment will be critical.”
Other unanimous votes included approving an $86,100 task order with Fleis and VandenBrink. The order concerns biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) capacity upgrades and residual management program alternatives at the wastewater treatment plant.
“The FY 2024-2025 capital budget includes $100,000 for Alternative BIOSOLIDS Strategy. This line item will cover the cost of the work proposed in Task Order #17,” Plant Superintendent Brandon Schrader wrote.
Schrader had two other items for the commissioners. They approved Master Service Agreement Amendments from Fleis & VandenBrink. The first, for $34,000, involves design engineering for replacing the wastewater treatment plant’s primary clarifier No. 2 mechanism. The second, for $30,700, involves design engineering for replacing the plant’s blower building’s motor control center.
Commissioners also approved replacing 12 city vehicles via a leasing arrangement with Enterprise Fleet Management (EFM). The arrangement is not to exceed $113,669.09. After that, they approved disposing the 12 replaced vehicles via EFM. Disposal is estimated to total $100,719.
The EFM program is designed to reduce overall fleet costs over time by using efficient life cycle management and maximizing resale value, according to City Controller Holly Keyser. After all orders are placed this year, Sturgis will have 54 vehicles in the program.
“Each year, the vehicles will be evaluated as part of the budget process to minimize fleet costs through effective fleet management,” Keyser wrote.
- Commissioners Emmanuel Nieves and Marvin Smith were absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
- The next Sturgis City Commission meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 23 at City Hall.
Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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