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Public works staff report digester repairs and seek $20,199 televising equipment to reduce outside contracting costs
Summary
Staff reported progress on cementitious mortar work inside the South Digester, said USDA financing information is being prepared for the treatment plant rebuild, and recommended buying three pieces of in-house televising equipment for $20,199 from Granger to locate underground storm and sanitary laterals more cheaply and quickly.
Public Works staff updated the Board of Public Works on Aug. 4 about progress in wastewater system work and recommended the city buy three pieces of televising equipment to reduce repeated outside contracting costs.
Why it matters: The digester and eventual treatment-plant rebuild affect wastewater handling and capital planning; accurate location of buried pipes and laterals reduces project delays, contractor change orders and repair costs.
Ben, Public Works staff, told the board that Sanchez Coating was applying cementitious mortar to the interior of the South Digester and that, at current progress rates and weather permitting, it would be roughly three weeks before the digester could be filled. Ben also said Judy and Donahue were providing financial information to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine potential qualification for USDA funding for rebuilding the treatment facility; staff hoped to have a USDA meeting by Sept. 18 and an update for the board at a subsequent meeting.
On equipment, Ben presented a quote for three pieces of televising equipment priced at $20,199 from Granger and said the purchase would pay for itself within about two years by reducing outside contractor calls for televising stormwater inlets, laterals and other buried pipes. He explained the equipment features: heavier push cable rated for up to 12-inch pipes, a camera head with a sonde (emitter) for locating depth to about 15 feet, and portability that would allow crews to access laterals at construction trenches or from inside buildings with permission. Ben said funds were available and that he had discussed the purchase with Judy.
Board members and staff discussed technical limitations. One board member noted that robot-launch techniques often cannot pass moderate obstructions—the camera may not progress beyond 30% blockage—whereas a push camera with a heavier cable is easier to operate in short laterals. Staff pointed to recent work on Oshkosh Street and the upcoming Mill Street project in 2027 as examples where in-house televising would have reduced the need to call contractors at premium rates. Contractors and staff present said the quoted equipment brand and model matched units commonly used by local contractors, and Ben said the quoted price from Granger was the lowest he had seen.
Procedural note: Director-level staff said the televising purchase required formal action but it was not listed as an action item on the Aug. 4 agenda; the board therefore treated the discussion as informational and will revisit the purchase as a voting item at a future meeting.
No formal vote was taken on the equipment at the Aug. 4 meeting. Staff will return with the item on the agenda for a vote after confirming timing, final specs and budget line items.
