Staff recommends approval for the donation of three (3) pieces of outdated laboratory equipment to Montana State University-Billings (MSU-B).

The Public Works Department would like to donate three (3) pieces of outdated laboratory instrumentation to MSU-B for use in their Science Department for educational purposes. 

The donation would include:

1. A 20-year-old Varian 55B Flame Spectrophotometer for analyzing metals (purchased in 2000).
2. A 13-year-old Lachat Flow-Through Injection Analyzer for analyzing inorganics (purchased in 2007).
3. A 15-year-old Hitachi Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for analyzing low-level metals (purchased in 2005).

The Water Quality laboratory has upgraded these pieces of equipment.  Currently, the equipment is in storage and not being used. 

City Council may:

• Approve the donation of the equipment to MSU-B, or;
• Disapprove of the donation and the Public Works Department will seek other means of disposal.

The original equipment is no longer supported by the manufacturer.  This donation to MSU-B Science Department has no financial impact to the City.  The only other option is to dispose of this equipment by recycling. The compensation for recycling would be approximately $80.00.