Commission Tables $100,000 Generator Purchase After Cost Questions
The Saline County Commission tabled a proposal to purchase an existing generator at the Salina Family Healthcare Center building at 651 East Prescott for $100,000, after a commissioner questioned whether a new generator could be installed for less.
County Administrator Matt Stiles explained that Section 6 of the original purchase agreement for the facility allows the county to retain the generator for an increased purchase price of $100,000. He described it as a natural gas generator designed to power the whole facility during an emergency, and said it was roughly five or six years old and well-maintained. Stiles said the county needs backup power at the site for both health department operations and emergency management, which is planning to co-locate there. The scheduled closing for the facility is November 1, 2027.
Stiles said a comparable new generator was estimated at $150,000, making the existing unit a good value. One commissioner supported the purchase, saying replacing the generator elsewhere would cost well over $100,000.
However, Commissioner Sparks said he had looked up the model number online and found a comparable new unit for about $42,542, with installation quoted at $40,000 to $50,000. "For $100,000, you can put in a brand new one with the new warranty," he said. He suggested the county consider seeking quotes rather than buying a six-year-old piece of equipment.
Commissioners noted there was no immediate deadline, with a decision required by around March of next year, and asked staff to gather informal cost information before drafting specifications. The commission voted to table the item, identified as RFA 2026-111, until the next meeting.
