The Levelland City Council held a regular meeting Monday evening that extended the disaster declaration and took care of a few housekeeping items and It was explained that an extension was necessary as the city and community are still in the clean-up state of the disaster. The council elected to extend the declaration for another 30 days to July 30.
The group began the meeting by considering and take necessary action on Resolution No. 2024-11 selecting a bank to serve as the primary depository bank for the City of Levelland.
City Manager James Fisher explained that the city issued a request for bank depository proposals based on the city’s investment policy, wherein the primary objectives in order of importance are safety, liquidity and return on investment (or least cost).
There are also many other important individual objectives related to treasury and cash management, banking services, collateral requirements, etc. for the city as indicated in the request for bank depository proposals.
All five banks in Levelland were provided with an opportunity to submit a bank depository proposal. The city received bank depository proposals from City Bank, First Bank & Trust and Sundown State Bank.
These three proposals were very competitive in many areas.
Fisher stated City Bank has been a good business partner with the city during our current contract. Also, First Bank & Trust and Sundown State Bank offered attractive and competitive options.
However, it was stated that there is no financial or operational advantage that would warrant moving to another bank. Therefore, the recommendation that was given to council was to accept the offer from City Bank.
Following a brief conversation about the details of the resolution, the council unanimously approved the recommendation.
The next item for discussion was the council considering and possibly approving the authorize for city staff to purchase generators for the public works department.
In November, the council authorized staff to seek bids and proposals for equipment included in the current fiscal year budget.
Among this equipment was a generator budgeted for the wastewater department that will replace the old generator at the main Alamo Lift Station. Also budgeted was a generator in the water department that will be placed at the Lee Street Pump Station to help with keeping power to the pumps like the generator at the Hickory Pump Station.
The budget currently includes $110,000 in the water department for the Lee Street Pump Station and $90,000 in the wastewater department for the main Alamo Lift Station.
In an effort to be more efficient, staff attempted to procure proposals from vendors that were members of a purchasing cooperative such as BuyBoard and Sourcewell.
Staff received proposals from three companies for the generators, and the results of those proposals were summarized in a chart provided. Two vendors were not able to provide a purchasing cooperative price but were listed in the summary for price comparison.
Fisher explained that staff had evaluated the proposals and the specifications for each of the generators and felt that Warren Cat with a purchase cooperative pricing through Sourcewell, would be the better choice of the proposals and will offer the performance needed for the department’s operational needs.
The price listed for the Lee Street Pump Station is set at $85,976.33 and the Alamo Lift Station price is set at $59,231.76.
Fisher also noted that the proposal for the generators looks like they came in significantly under budget, but the proposals do not include the installation of the generator. The installation would include a concrete pad and the wiring needed for the pump station and Alamo Lift Station.
The board unanimously authorized staff to proceed with the purchase of both generators through Warren CAT with Sourcewell purchasing cooperative pricing.
Continuing with public works equipment, the group considered the authorization of staff to purchase a hydrovac trailer.
In November, the council authorized staff to seek bids and proposals for equipment included in the current fiscal year budget. Among this equipment was a hydrovac trailer which was budgeted for the water department.
Although budgeted in the water department, this piece of equipment will be used by both the wastewater department and the water department, mostly to help locate buried mains.
The current budget includes $60,000 for this piece of equipment.
In the same effort to be more efficient, staff attempted to procure proposals from vendors that were members of a purchasing cooperative such as BuyBoard and Sourcewell.
Levelland received proposals from three companies for three different vac trailers, and the results of those proposals were summarized in the chart provided by city staff.
One vendor was not able to provide a purchasing cooperative price but was listed in the summary for price comparison.
Staff evaluated the proposals and the specifications for each of the pieces of equipment and felt any of the three will provide the required performance. However, Ditch Witch is the lower bid of the two-purchasing cooperative pricing and staff recommended going with the lower bid.
The Ditch Witch bid had a price listed at $64,170.35 compared to Vermeer with a bid price of $69,609.95. The Ditch Witch shows a better price with a trade in at $51,670.35 compared to $57,009.95.
The council approved the item unanimously.
Moving forward, the council was asked to consider and take necessary action on the authorization for staff to prepare bid specifications for the solicitation and purchase of police Tahoe vehicles, a fire department brush truck and a fire department ladder truck.
Fisher explained that the purchase of public safety equipment is one of their largest capital expenditures within the General Fund and one of the most visible expenditures.
“Police vehicles are critical to the everyday operations of the department and provide the means for exceptional customer service,” said Fisher. “The Tahoe is a very visible vehicle that enhances safety for our officers and creates a positive presence for the community.”
He also explained that General Motors builds these vehicles only at certain times of the year and only if an entity has placed an order. It also takes approximately six to eight months to receive the vehicle once the order is placed.
The Levelland Fire Department was granted permission from the council in August 2014 to apply for a grant through the Texas Forest Service (TFS) to replace an approximately 18-year-old brush truck.
The Levelland Fire Department was awarded the grant in the amount of $258,000 on October 25, 2023. The grant is a cost share grant which the Texas Forest Service will cover 90% and the City of Levelland will be obligated to 10% which would be a minimum of $25,800.
The 2024 estimated cost for this truck is $350,000; however, the TFS would only cover approximately $232,000, leaving the city to fund $118,000. Also, this truck has about a 9-month delivery date once ordered.
The Levelland Fire Department is also in need of replacing their 2000 EONE 65 Ladder Truck with a new 100-foot ladder truck. The new ladder truck will allow the fire department to have better access structures at the Rail Park, South Plains College and other businesses within the community. The new truck is estimated in cost at $1.75 million to $2 million and 18-months delivery from order date.
Fisher suggested that his recommendation was to authorize city staff to prepare bid specifications for the solicitation and purchase of police Tahoe vehicles, fire department brush truck and fire department ladder truck, provide financial options and bring this item back to the council by July 15.
The council agreed with the recommendation and approved the item unanimously.