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Public works seeks $9,700 camera replacement and funds for limited annual wastewater pipe work
Summary
Public works staff told council the lateral camera used to inspect service lines is failing after about 10 years and requested replacement quotes; staff also outlined plans to perform about 700 feet of in-house annual wastewater replacement this season and explained per-foot cost differences versus contracted work.
Public works staff briefed the North Bend City Council on March 24 about two planned purchases: replacement of the lateral inspection camera and funding for the department's annual wastewater lateral/mainline work.
Public works explained the lateral camera, which inspects customer lateral connections (4-inch lines), is roughly 10 years old and “is glitching right now.” Staff said the camera wears out because the crews run and inspect substantial lengths of pipe annually; the department runs about 60,000 feet of mainline camera inspections per year and cameras used on laterals typically do 7,000–8,000 feet of that work. The department said it received three quotes and the camera replacement will be about $9,700.
On wastewater replacement, the collections crew described the city’s two-track approach: work eight to nine feet deep or shallower in-house and contract out deeper work. Staff said in-house replacement—which also includes surface restoration—costs roughly $250 per foot, while contracting out deeper work typically runs $400–$500 per foot. For the 2025 schedule the department does not plan major mainline projects and expects to perform about 700 feet of in-house replacement this year, a lower number than some prior years when the total approached 1,000–1,200 feet.
Public works noted that the in-house rate is lower because the city does not include contractor profit in those jobs and shallower work is less complex. Staff also described how residents sometimes request lateral camera inspections as a due-diligence item when selling or buying a home; the city provides lateral video inspections to residents and businesses on request.
Councilors asked questions about durability and scheduling; staff said the failing camera still works irregularly but recommended replacement to avoid losing inspection capacity this season. There was no formal council vote at the work session; staff said the purchases and contract scheduling will appear as consent or agenda items at the council meeting.
