City Approves $178,000 Amiad Water Filter System Purchase

Ulysses City Council approved the purchase of an Amiad water filter system for the Bentwood Golf Course for $178,000 during their regular meeting January 11.

Jas Dale from Western Kansas Irrigation came to the Council to discuss water filters for the Bentwood Golf Course. Dale told the Council Public Works Superintendent Ruben Flores, Mayor Tim McCauley, and City Administrator Alan Olson had witnessed the testing of filters from the Amiad Filter Company out of Israel, with domestic locations in California and North Carolina, and were satisfied with the results. Dale mentioned Cactus Feeders and Rocky Hill Feeders had purchased Amiad’s filters, and they had been working flawlessly.

Dale said the machine had no wear issues from dirt and sand, a 60 gallon flush cleaning cycle, and a PVC body molded into a stainless steel filter. The system’s filters last for five years, and it includes three replacement nozzle and gasket kits.

One of the main points Dale explained was the automatic cleaning feature of the three installed Amiad filters. If one of the filters is dirty, the system automatically cleans without flow interruption in less than a minute.

Dale told the Council there is a 30 percent down payment for the system, but if the City is satisfied they will pay the rest after a four month trial period. If the City is not satisfied, they will receive a full refund.

Mayor McCauley said the cost of this project would come out of the City’s Waster Water fund.

The Council said they trust Dale with Western Irrigation due to their relationship with a local company, and decided April 1 should be the latest installation date.

The Council made and passed to approve the purchase for $178,000, subject to delivery and installation by April 1.

In other business: The City officially decided to utilize the LEAPS Service (League’s Execitive/Administrative Position Search) to look for a new City Administrator.

The LEAPS Service will:

Conduct a governing body survey to determine desired qualifications;

Create an advertisement in consultation with the governing body and recommend advertisement locations;

Rank the candidates based on qualifications;

Facilitate the interview process and conduct background checks on the finalists;

Provide communications with candidates not selected; and

Pay the selected candidate’s first year of the Kansas Association for City/County Management membership.

The motion was made and passed to utilize the LEAPS service to help handle the hiring process for a new City Administrator, for no more than $7,000.

The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for 5 p.m., Wednesday, January 25, at City Hall.