Annually the City of Marquette Public Works Department collects brush and bulk wood waste from residents and internal operations.  The material is stock piled until enough material accumulates and the City brings in a processing company that chips the material into either a usable product for mulching around City trees or a product that will be hauled off site for composting.  The City currently has material stored at the Flink Farm requiring processing.

Tub grinders are a high wear piece of equipment that require a large initial investment and a high level of maintenance to keep them operational.  Tub grinders can burn in excess of 50 gallons of fuel per hour.  This creates a limited market for the equipment and does not lend itself to a good business case for owning the equipment that would be used for approximately one week per year.

City staff was able to secure pricing from MJB Industries, Inc. out of Marinette, Wisconsin.  The City has previously used their tub grinding services with satisfaction.  The quoted rate is $500 per hour for operational time and $125 per hour for travel time.  City staff recommend waiving the competitive bidding procedure and entering into a contract at the quoted rates with MJB Industries, Inc. due to the extremely limited availability of this type of equipment. 

Sufficient funds are available for this service contract in the solid waste fund.

Authorize City staff to enter into a contract with MJB Industries, Inc. of Marinette, Wisconsin in an amount not-to-exceed $20,000 for tub grinding services at the unit prices quoted, and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the contract.