Staff recommends purchasing a compost trommel screen from Ecoverse for $344,950.

Staff is in the process of designing and constructing a compost facility to handle yard waste and sludge from the Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF).  The project is being designed in phases; Phase I will handle 25,000 tons and Phase II will handle 50,000 tons.  The yard waste will be hauled into the compost facility from city yard waste trucks and other private haulers.  Solid Waste currently hauls the sludge from the WRF.  The trommel screen is a necessary piece of equipment to screen the final product for consistency.  The trommel screen enhances the final product by separating large particles and non-degraded wood chips.  In addition, the material that is caught in the trommel screen can be re-used in future compost piles to accelerate the composting process. 

The equipment was advertised on March 10th and 17th in the Yellowstone County News and on the City's website.  Bids were opened March 21, 2023.  Two bids were received.  Ecoverse submitted the lowest responsible bid.

City Council may:

• Approve the purchase of a compost trommel screen from Ecoverse in the amount of $344,950; or,
• Not approve the purchase. If not approved, the finished product will be inconsistent in size, making the finished compost less desirable.

The following bids were received:

Contractor	Bid
Ecoverse	$344,950.00
Vermeer Mountain West	$465,501.00

The composting project was budgeted in FY23 using Solid Waste Funds. There is adequate budget to purchase the equipment.