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Council approves $309,200 purchase of sanitary sewer camera truck to replace 15‑year‑old unit
Summary
The Common Council authorized purchase of a new sewer inspection truck with a 2,000‑foot cable and single‑operator capability to replace an aging vehicle that staff said has the equivalent of roughly 250,000 miles of service time due to idling and daily use.
The Oak Creek Common Council on May 20 approved the purchase of a sanitary sewer inspection camera truck from EJ Equipment Inc. for $309,200 to replace the city’s 15‑year‑old unit.
Brian Johnston, utility engineer, told the council the existing truck has heavy hours from daily use and idling and that the unit is experiencing generator and engine problems. The new truck selected (a Q’s truck) includes a 2,000‑foot cable—longer than the 1,200‑foot cables on comparable trucks—which allows crews to inspect longer pipe runs without resetting, and enables the city to continue operations when the cable end needs field repair. The truck’s design also allows a single operator to run inspections rather than requiring two staff, which staff said improves efficiency.
Johnston said staff assessed upgrading the existing truck with new camera equipment but determined replacement was necessary because of mechanical issues and total accumulated hours. The purchase came in under the department’s budgeted amount for the camera truck.
Why this matters: routine but essential utility equipment replacement supports preventive maintenance and sewer‑system inspection workloads; the longer cable and single‑operator capability improve operational efficiency and reduce downtime for repairs.
