The City of Brooksville will have a more reliable way to bolster its system of lift stations now that the City Council has unanimously approved a more than $600,000 contract in order to purchase diesel-operated by-pass pumps to back-up emergency systems in the event of a power failure.
“The city currently has 26 lift stations (that) traditionally operate off electric pumps, and we need to have a back-up in the event of a power failure,” Public Works Director Paul Booth told the panel during its regular April 3 meeting. “Traditionally, we’ve operated off back-up generators (and) some of the generators that are out there have failed, we believe the by-pass pumps are much more efficient and effective means of doing things.”
Under the $616,577.50 contract, the Winter Haven-based Coastal Pump & Equipment would provide eight 4-inch skid-mounted diesel, one 6-inch trailer-mounted diesel, and two 8-inch skid-mounted diesel bypass pumps.
Purchasing the pumps would save the city money over the long term, Booth said. “During a recent emergency, our total rental amount on the emergency by-pass was right around $14,000,” Booth said. “By purchasing these pumps, we will now have a backup system on all our lift stations.”
Revenue for the contract would be derived from the $4,289,311 awarded to the city by the American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) to alleviate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is just another example of ways we’re using those dollars to build back infrastructure that is much needed in the city,” said Mayor Blake Bell.
Members of the Council approved the contract by a 5-0 margin.
