By Jim Bloch
Cities are rarely topographically level. To pump wastewater from lower lying areas to higher ground or to treatment plants, cities rely on pump stations to move the sewage. To ensure service during power outages, most pump stations are equipped with a backup generator.
The city of Port Huron will spend $105,000 for a new backup generator for the Hancock Street sanitary sewer pump station.
At its Feb. 9 regular meeting, the Port Huron City Council voted unanimously to purchase the new pump from Rauhorn Electric, Inc., of Bruce Township, with the low bid of $104,984.
J. Ranck Electric, Inc. of Mount Pleasant submitted the second lowest bid at $132,689. Murphy Electrical Services, Inc., of Flint, was high at $145,986.
“This was a budgeted item,” said City Manager James Freed, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on YouTube.
The city’s wastewater collection system budgeted $100,000 for the purchase.
“So, it came in just about on budget,” Freed said. “It serves about 235 acres of residential area. So, you kind of want that pump to work.”
“Definitely so,” said Mayor Anita Ashford.
“Have we used this company before?” asked council member Teri Lamb.
“Um, I believe so,” said Freed. “Yes.”
Freed discussed the project in a memo to Ashford and the council.
“The Hancock Street sanitary pump station is located at 302 Hancock Street near Omar Street west of the old Dunn Paper Mill site,” said Freed. “There is an existing natural gas standby generator that provided back up power to the station during power outages. The generator is well over 20 years old and has surpassed its expected service life. Over the last couple of years, the generator experienced increased maintenance and costly repairs, including billowing smoke during its weekly start up. Due to the extent of disrepair, it was taken completely out of service last summer.”
The city installed new pumps and a new automatic transfer switch during a renovation of the pump station in 2021.
“However, no improvements were made to the current natural gas standby generator as it was not experiencing any operational issues at that time,” Freed said.
The city advertised the backup generator project on the city’s website and on the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network.
The final vote was 5-0. Mayor Pro Tem Sherry Archibald and council member Robert Mozurak were absent.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
