NCSD board approves $32K fuel pump system replacement

Installation of a new fuel pump and management system to replace a nearly 25-year-old unit in the school bus yard was approved by the Newton Community School District Board of Education during its meeting Monday night at the E.J.H. Beard Administration Center.

The school board voted 5-0 in favor of the $32,145 purchase, which will replace the current pumps and tanks that were first installed on district property nearly 25 years ago. School board member Donna Cook was absent from the meeting and could not cast her vote on the action item.

Tim Bloom, NCSD director of business services, said the present system uses key fobs, which are given to each vehicle owned by the school district. The fobs allow the district to track fuel usage and other information. However, the system shorted out and can no longer record how much fuel is filling any particular school bus.

“It came to light that we needed new fuel pumps that are not from 1994,” Bloom said. “These are similar to a Casey’s (General Store) where it’s an actual (digital) meter.”

The current tank system, he added, can accommodate 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 2,000 gallons of gas. Bloom said NCSD Transportation Supervisor Curt Roorda confirmed the new system would match the new vehicles and their fuel charges.

Contracted through Acterra Group, which holds branch offices in western and northeast Iowa, the project cost summary includes the installation of commercial dispensers, dispenser accessories, a fuel management system and pipe accessories. Equipment costs total $20,800.97; installation costs total $11,344.04.

According to the contract included in the extended school board agenda, Acterra Group is poised to remove the existing pumps and card reader system, replacing them with two single product suction dispensers for gas and diesel. The company will also install a new fuel control system to replace the existing fuel management system.

Startup and training of the new system will be provided to bus drivers and the transportation supervisor as needed. Electrical work will reuse existing wiring and electrical conduits.

All equipment and installation, according to the Acterra quote document, is “to be purchased through Sourcewell,” formerly known as National Joint Powers Alliance.

In other action Monday, the school board:

• Voted 5-0 to approve a consideration to reschedule a public hearing to adopt the proposed fiscal year 2020 certified budget. A public hearing to adopt the budget was initially planned Monday but had to be rescheduled due to a late printing of the budget. Instead, the school board scheduled the public hearing for 6:30 p.m. April 15 at the E.J.H. Beard Administration Center.

• Voted 5-0 to approve a consideration to adopt a fiscal year 2020 budget guarantee resolution in the amount of $69,962. An explanation in the extended school board agenda stated the school district “is eligible for the regular program budget guarantee because of declining enrollment.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com