The City of La Crosse approved replacing the pipeline inspection camera system mounted on a sewer-flushing truck after officials said the existing hydro-propelled unit has had repeated maintenance problems.

The Council approved the purchase following a presentation from Director Gallagher, who told members the current camera—installed on the truck purchased in 2020—has had “recurrent maintenance problems” for about three years and that the manufacturer and service distributors no longer support that configuration. Gallagher said the camera system is “a pretty vital piece of equipment” used “for diagnosing what caused sanitary sewer backups and performing day-to-day maintenance on sanitary and stormwater systems.”

The council discussed technical differences between the old and new systems. Gallagher said the current unit is a hydro-propelled camera that uses water jets, which “makes the electrical connections and the wire terminations... a lot less reliable.” He described the replacement as a tractor-driven, dry camera that “drives up the pipe,” explaining it is “a lot more serviceable for a longer period of time” and will be better sealed from moisture. Gallagher said the new system includes a three-year warranty on seals and related components.

Councilmember Goggin asked why replacement was necessary now and whether the new system would have a longer service life. Gallagher said the city had exhausted repair options—service shops had taken the unit to Illinois and Indiana—and that the new tractor-driven camera is expected to be more serviceable. He told the council the camera will be transferable to the truck that replaces the current vehicle and that the intended life expectancy of the new camera system is about 15 to 20 years; the current truck is due to be replaced in approximately five years.

When asked about cost or funding, Gallagher said the source of funds is sanitary utility cash from the sanitary sewer utility operating budget. No specific dollar amount for the replacement purchase was provided during the meeting. After discussion, a motion to approve the purchase was made and the council voted to approve it.

The decision leaves the city with a newer, tractor-driven camera expected to reduce recurring maintenance related to water-exposed electrical connections and to be reused on a replacement truck in the future.