PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BRYAN BPA APPROVES TRUCK PURCHASE … Bryan Board of Public Affairs vice-chair Karen Ford (left) and chair Annette Schreiner (right) hear a presentation from Director of Utilities Derek Schultz on the purchase of a 2026 bucket truck for the Communications Department at its meeting on Tuesday, May 5.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Board of Public Affairs met in a regular session at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5 with board members Karen Ford, Annette Schreiner, Brian Davis, Jeremy Suffel and Debra Beevers in attendance.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the approval of the April 21, 2026, meeting minutes then followed.
Director of Utilities Derek Schultz was authorized by the board to purchase a 2026 insulated aerial lift device, known as a bucket truck, for the Communications Department.
It will replace Truck #47, a 2002 Chevrolet 3500HD equipped with a 45-foot Versalift boom, due to ongoing maintenance and transmission issues.
The new truck, which is scheduled to be delivered later this year, will be used primarily to build and maintain the city’s fiber network infrastructure, and on occasion be utilized by the Electric Distribution Department.
There were two bids submitted for the purchase of the bucket truck on April 23, 2026, with Custom Truck One Source, Inc. of Michigan being awarded the bid for a truck that includes a 40-foot boom for a total price of $148,000. The other bid was submitted by Environmental Sales and Service at $207,045.
Funds for the proposed bucket truck have been allocated and appropriated in the 2026 Electric Capital Reserve Budgets for the Electric Communications and Electric Distribution accounts.
Beevers made the motion to approve the purchase with Davis seconding the motion. The motion was approved by a 5-0 vote.
A resolution recognizing National Drinking Water Week, which took place the week of May 3-9, 2026, was approved.
The main focus is to increase awareness of the essential role water plays in our daily lives.
Bryan joins with the American Water Works Association along with more than 4,700 other public systems in the United States in celebrating National Drinking Water Week.
The resolution describes water as the most valuable resource, with drinking water serving a vital role in daily life, serving an essential purpose to health, hydration and hygiene needs for the quality of life the citizens enjoy every day.
It also appreciates the hard work performed by the entire water sector, designing capital projects, operators ensuring the safety and quality of drinking water and members of a distribution crew maintaining the infrastructure communities rely on to transport high-quality drinking water from its source to consumers’ taps.
“It’s an opportunity to recognize and thank our dedicated staff for their ongoing commitment and professionalism in maintaining the public water systems,” said Schultz.
PROJECT UPDATES
Schultz updated on the Navarre Street waterline project saying the water department has already started work on the 800 block between Avenue A and South Lebanon Street.
The project will replace an aging infrastructure with approximately 600 feet of new PVC water main. It’s expected to take one month to complete.
He also mentioned that the fire hydrant system wide flushing program is being done by the water department.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Next meeting will be Tuesday, May 19 at 5 p.m.
