Public works supervisor reports reduced overtime and pipeline repairs; department requests specialized flush truck

City Utility Maintenance Supervisor Johnny Reich told the council about operational changes that have reduced overtime and improved response times for water and sewer maintenance, and requested a specialized flush/HyperVac truck to address clogged manholes and safer excavation around utilities.

Reich said when he began in May 2023 the department had about 256 open work orders; through scheduling changes, parts stocking, call triage and reworked on-call procedures the department reduced unnecessary after-hours responses and cut overtime from an average of roughly 65 hours per week toward much lower levels in early implementation. He credited foremen and crews for time-management improvements and said the department inventories commonly used parts to avoid emergency parts runs.

Reich provided a list of recent public-works repairs the crew completed, including several hundred feet of sewer and water main replacements, and described the difficulties crews face during cold-weather breaks and major failures (working in flow and mud). He said the department needs a flush/HyperVac truck (prices discussed) to reduce contractor rental costs and improve crew safety when exposing utilities.

Councilors and staff also praised the utility crews for their response to a recent major plant failure, where staff improvised to maintain service to most customers. Reich said pressure-management changes at the treatment plant (limiting pressure spikes above about 115 PSI) have reduced certain types of breaks.

Ending: The council acknowledged the operational improvements and the request for capital equipment; staff will evaluate the flush/HyperVac procurement and staffing/compensation concerns Reich raised.