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Public works director cites equipment limits after winter storm; TDOT and neighboring cities offered assistance
Summary
After a winter storm public-works staff said a hydraulic failure reduced plowing capacity and highlighted the need for more plow trucks and equipment attachments; staff thanked TDOT and the city of Cleveland for standby assistance.
Collegedale’s public works director reported on the city’s response to a recent winter storm and urged investment in additional equipment to improve resilience in future events.
Why it matters: Staff said a broken hydraulic hose removed about 25% of plow and salt capacity during the event, forcing the city to lean on Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and neighboring municipalities for help. Commissioners praised crews’ work but noted equipment shortfalls could hamper responses to larger storms.
The public works director described the event as a “great experience” for staff but said, “we ran into a problem with 1 of the trucks… a hydraulic hose that broke. We lost 25% of our plow and salt abilities.” He said TDOT and the city of Cleveland offered assistance and were “phenomenal.”
Staff recommended acquiring more plow-equipped trucks, additional brining capacity and equipment attachments to reduce operational risk from breakdowns. City staff said the city currently has three brine-capable trucks and four plow trucks, and that spare hydraulic components are costly and not kept in inventory because the failure rate is low.
Commissioners and members of the public praised crews for clearing streets and working long hours. The director said the largest takeaway is “the need for equipment” so the city can cover more areas and absorb breakdowns without outside assistance.
No formal vote was taken; commissioners directed staff to continue evaluating equipment needs for next year’s capital planning.
