HomeMy WebLinkAboutA032 - Resolution waiving the City's Purchasing Policy and awarding contract to Marshall County Landfill for landfill tipping fees for ash disposal for the Power PlantITEM #:33
DATE:06-09-26
DEPT:ELEC
SUBJECT:TIPPING FEES FOR POWER PLANT ASH DISPOSAL
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
The City's Power Plant currently uses a small section of the ash pond where combusted
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) residue settles to the bottom. The ash itself is composed of
inorganic materials in the fuel that do not burn and must be removed from the boilers to allow
continual operation. Once deposited in the ash pond, the relatively clean water on the top of
the pond can be recycled to the Power Plant to transport additional ash from the bottom of the
boilers. Over time the ash builds up on the bottom of the pond and reduces the available
capacity. The ash must be regularly removed via excavating or dredging and hauled to
a landfill to provide continual space so the boilers can continue to burn RDF.
Boone County Landfill is the designated landfill for Ames' solid waste and, therefore,
would be the landfill where excavated ash is typically disposed. However, Boone
County Landfill does not want to receive the RDF combustion ash and has instructed
the City to haul the ash to another landfill. The City has hauled the ash to Marshall
County Landfill since June 2025.
Funding for this contract with Marshall County Landfill will come from the FY 2026/27 Power
Plant Ash System account where $300,000 is allocated for ash hauling and disposal. Of this
amount, $100,000 is available to cover the tipping fees for the Marshall County Landfill (this
action). The remaining $2 0 0 ,0 0 0 is obligated under a separate contract with Wulfekuhle
Injection & Pumping to remove the ash from the pond and haul it. That contract was approved
by City Council on April 14, 2026.
In addition to approving the contract, the Council is being asked to waive the Purchasing
Policies and Procedures requirement for formal bids, since solid waste planning area
regulations would prevent the City from bidding the disposal location for this material.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Waive the City’s Purchasing Policies and Procedures requirement for formal bidding
procedures and award a contract to Marshall County Landfill, Marshalltown, IA for landfill
tipping fees for Power Plant ash disposal in the amount not to exceed $100,000 from
July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The current contract with Marshall County Landfill is $75 per ton and remain the
same under the proposed new contract.
2. Do not approve the contract and identify another landfill that will accept the Power
Plant's ash.
1
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The Power Plant needs to continuously remove ash from the ash pond when a unit is
burning RDF. This contract will provide for the disposal of the ash. The actual amount
paid to Marshall County will be dependent upon the amount of ash delivered to the
facility. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative No. 1.
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