Saginaw targets chemical procurement flexibility as treatment supply volatility persists
City of Saginaw Public Services Department, Michigan · Meeting date: October 12, 2026 · Published: October 13, 2026
Saginaw council introduced a purchasing-rule change that would exempt water and wastewater chemicals from case-by-case council vendor approvals, citing abrupt price movements and supplier fulfilment problems. The council also approved $31,600 of treatment equipment and a three-year software-support programme for its water and wastewater systems.
Key points
- Council introduced, but did not finally adopt, an ordinance to exempt water and wastewater chemicals from individual council approval when vendors or prices change, provided spending remains within budgeted line items.
- Staff said water-treatment chemical markets have faced significant price volatility and, in some cases, vendors have been unable to fulfil orders over the past four to five years.
- The consent agenda approved a $31,600 sole-source purchase from Ferguson Enterprises for two 6-inch X-ripper assembly grinders for the Water and Wastewater Treatment Departments' Treatment and Pumping Division.
- Council also approved $45,433 for FY2027 AVEVA software and support for Tier 2 Historian systems, with FY2028 and FY2029 spending of $47,693 and $50,077 respectively subject to budget approval.
Full report
Saginaw City Council has begun changing its procurement rules to allow faster sourcing of water and wastewater treatment chemicals when established suppliers cannot deliver, following repeated supply and pricing disruptions in recent years.
The council introduced an ordinance on 12 October that would exempt water-treatment chemicals, wastewater chemicals, road salt, sand and brine from the normal requirement for council approval of purchases above $2,000. The ordinance was introduced and laid over under the city charter, rather than being finally adopted at the meeting.
Under the proposed approach, the relevant spending would remain in the approved city budget, but departments would not have to return to council when they need to change a vendor or purchase price. Staff said the aim was to avoid delays when an approved supplier is unable to provide a necessary material and another source must be found.
In discussion, the city manager said water-treatment chemical procurement had become especially volatile over the last four to five years. He cited substantial price changes and instances in which suppliers had said they could not fulfil an order. A recent example involved staff seeking a vendor able to provide two tons of a particular material or chemical, a process that otherwise would have required a purchase followed by council ratification to amend the supplier and amount.
A council member requested continued access to information on the vendors and products ultimately used, particularly for wastewater materials, salt and brine. Staff said the original amounts would remain visible as budget line items and the proposed exception would apply to the approval of vendor changes.
Alongside the proposed rule change, council unanimously approved several water and wastewater operational purchases through its consent agenda. These included a $31,600 sole-source purchase from Ferguson Enterprises for two 6-inch X-ripper assembly grinders for the Water and Wastewater Treatment Departments' Treatment and Pumping Division.
Council also approved a sole-source purchase from Q-Mation for AVEVA software and support for the Water and Wastewater Treatment Services Department's Tier 2 Historian systems. The approval covers $45,433 for FY2027, with additional spending of $47,693 in FY2028 and $50,077 in FY2029 contingent on budget approval.
The combined FY2027 commitments total $77,033. The potential three-year AVEVA programme is valued at $143,203, subject to the later budget approvals.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: City Council Meeting, City of Saginaw Public Services Department