Sparta Aldermen approved an estimated $37,500 increase for the Story Mountain water booster pumps replacement project Thursday night.
Sparta has been working to replace two pumps at the Story Mountain pump station for the past two years. Sparta Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the plans suddenly became obsolete.
“What happened is the company that made the pumps to begin with sold out to another company, and that company decided not to build those same pumps, so we’ve gotta build different pumps, different valves, so it’s a collective of $37,000,” Quick said. “It’s more, I mean, it’s just the design.”
Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said the city has no other option but to buy the new pumps.
The two water pumps will come with two check valves and two pressure gauges. Quick said the current pumps are about 40 years old and are not having problems, but the pumps need to be replaced. Quick said having to buy new pumps will extend the project’s timeline.
“W&O is doing the work,” Quick said. “They have actually done the grading. Now we can send them the change orders so they can get the motors and the pumps ordered, and it’s gonna be about a two-month turnaround to get the motors and pumps in place. Once they get the pumps on hand, then they will start the construction of tearing out and installing the new pumps.”
Quick said the pump station will also receive new motors and new electrical wiring. The Story Mountain pump station pumps water to an estimated 20 homes.
In other business, Officer Salvador Segura was sworn in to serve at the Sparta Police Department.
The board of aldermen authorized the solicitation of bids for asphalt and rock for the fiscal year 2025-2026.
The fire department will be getting an industrial Washer and Dryer after the aldermen approved to purchase them using a fire grant.
The aldermen approved the low bid for stump grinding at the city’s electric department. City Recorder Tonya Tindle said the bid came in at $2.50 per inch.
The aldermen approved the purchase of two sheds at an estimated $12,166 a piece. One shed is for sanitation trucks and the other is for the Sewer Plant.
The aldermen approved the low bid for the city’s workman’s comp and liability insurance. Tindle said the lowest bidder is a different company than what the city has used in years past. Tindle said the low bid will offer the same coverage but save the city $30,000.
The aldermen approved to move the June 19 meeting to June 26. The aldermen also approved to cancel the July 3 meeting.
