Council hears proposal for storm-sewer maintenance staffing and new vac trailer to reduce flooding risk

Highland City public-works staff described a storm-sewer maintenance gap in the tentative budget and recommended two part-time positions plus a vac trailer with a boom to clean sumps and storm structures that have accumulated sediments.

Public-works staff explained why specialized equipment is necessary: many storm sumps are deep (some as deep as 20 feet) and have perforated pipes intended to infiltrate stormwater into the ground. Over time, perforations can clog and reduce infiltration, increasing flood risk. Staff said manual cleaning is difficult and that a vac trailer with a boom would make maintenance safer and more effective.

Council and staff discussed alternatives. Staff said the city’s existing sewer vac truck is not well suited for storm-sump upkeep and that retrofitting that unit would cost more than purchasing a vac trailer designed for the purpose. Staff said private contractors (for example, companies that inspect and clean sewer lines) could be an option and mentioned a vendor they have used for inspections, but staff recommended budgeting the vac trailer so the city can carry out routine maintenance proactively.

Staff also noted the proposal includes hiring two part-time operators so crews can run maintenance without requiring CDL drivers for every shift; the equipment and staffing combination is split among utilities to reduce impact on any single fund.

No purchase was authorized at the meeting; staff will present detailed cost estimates and options for contracting versus in-house procurement in upcoming budget meetings.