Perkins commissioners and the Perkins Public Works Authority on April 8 approved parallel resolutions authorizing the issuance of indebtedness to buy a trailer-mounted sewer jetter and approved legal and bond-counsel arrangements needed to close the loan.

The commission approved Resolution 4-2025 authorizing the city to incur indebtedness related to equipment financing, and the Perkins Public Works Authority approved Resolution 5-2025 to issue a revenue note not to exceed $77,000. The commission and the authority later approved an engagement letter and purchase order to Floyd & Driver PLLC for bond-counsel and closing services.

Why it matters: the jetter replaces an aging unit that staff said is ‘‘past end of life’’ and reduces repeated rental costs. The authority will borrow directly from a bank to buy the machine; direct placement requires waivers of competitive sale and standard debt approvals the commission and trustees granted in separate votes.

City attorney and bond counsel David Floyd told commissioners that because the authority is placing the loan directly with a bank, ‘‘you have to go through the normal debt approval procedures’’ and that the city commission must also ratify the authority’s action. Floyd also explained he will prepare documents and, if necessary, a tax opinion in connection with the note.

Staff described the machine as a trailer-mounted jetter similar to the unit the city rented for a month while evaluating needs. The vendor-supplied used unit carries low hours and, staff said, should extend service life 15 to 20 years under normal conditions. Staff indicated the purchase will be paid from capital sales-tax funds included in the capital improvement plan.

Commissioners voted unanimously on the city and authoritizing actions. After the votes the city executed a purchase order for bond counsel and recessed to allow signatures on closing documents.

The approvals taken were procedural: the commission authorized incurrence of debt (resolution 4-2025), the authority approved issuance of the 2025 revenue note (resolution 5-2025), and the authority engaged Floyd & Driver PLLC to handle documentation and closing. No additional borrowing amounts or final loan terms were disclosed on the record.

The packet and discussion indicate the city and authority expect the jetter purchase to reduce recurring rental costs and to expand local capability for sewer maintenance, but the loan closing and any lender-negotiated terms remain to be completed.