Sewer division asks for lift‑station rehabs and $300,000 for field asset data collection

Sewer leadership presented a package of maintenance and replacement needs focused on lift‑station reliability and remote monitoring. Staff recommended rehabilitating four stations — repair or replace pumps and floats, upgrade electrical panels and install bypass pumping capability — citing age, parts availability and recurring outages as drivers of the request.

Public works staff also proposed a $300,000 shared fund (split among sewer, water and transportation) to pay for field data‑collection, consultant support and locating equipment to create an accurate asset inventory. Presenters said the city’s existing utility maps contain gaps and that contractors had recently hit a force main because of inaccurate records; staff argued the up‑front cost is warranted to avoid emergencies and unplanned repairs.

The board asked for more specificity and for project‑level cost breakdowns. Staff described the $300,000 as a budget‑level estimate that covers contractor locational work, field confirmation and data ingestion into existing GIS/software subscriptions the city already maintains. Board members indicated they expect progress updates and a detailed scope of work before final approval.