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Public Works warns of aging water mains, requests sewer camera and storage building in FY27 discussion
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Summary
Public Works Director Josh told the council that multiple undersized or aging water mains and pressure‑zone issues require projects and that the department needs a sewer inspection camera, more modern sweepers and an 11‑bay storage building; staff estimated the storage building at roughly $400,000 and said annual outsourced camering costs could drop if the city owns a camera.
Public Works Director Josh told the Smithfield City Council Wednesday that several pieces of the city's infrastructure and fleet are aging and that buying some equipment would reduce recurring outsourcing costs.
Josh outlined water distribution upgrades — including upsizing undersized mains on 400 West and 200 West and completing a booster station that will allow the city to shift water between pressure zones when wells drop offline. "It should be fired up here in the next couple months," Josh said of the booster station; he told council the SCADA integration will provide earlier alarms to prevent pressure spikes and leaks.
On equipment, Josh requested a sewer camera to bring inspection capability in‑house. He said hiring a third party currently costs roughly $30,000–$50,000 a year for the camering portion of the work; buying a camera would reduce that recurring expense and improve emergency response. He also described needs for a newer road sweeper (the current unit was described as undersized and prone to long repairs because parts are hard to get), a replacement John Deere tractor (1995 model), and various park‑service equipment including an aerator/top dresser and cemetery mower.
Josh described a critical storage shortage: he said roughly $600,000 of equipment sits outside under tarps and that a proposed 11‑bay storage building would cost approximately $400,000. "We have to add some more storage down there for sure," he told the council, and staff indicated capital priority would be equipment this fiscal year with a building plan to follow.
Council members asked about frequency of equipment use, trade‑in values, and whether some services could remain outsourced. Josh said the camera would enable more targeted jetting and reduce the annual sewer‑cleaning line item if purchased.
Next steps: staff will prioritize equipment purchases and return with more precise bids for both equipment and a storage facility; the FY27 budget as currently drafted allocates funds for many of the items discussed but some requests are pending grant outcomes and final bids.
