Orange City Street Department details heavy summer work, equipment plans

The city’s Street Department described a busy season of emergency responses, interdepartmental support and upcoming equipment plans during the council meeting.

Luke Horki, representing the Street Department, said crews plowed snow beginning about 1 a.m. on one night and later responded to a fire that kept them working a very long shift. “I think I had a 14-hour day in the payloader that day,” he said, describing hauling debris and supporting fire operations. Luke also recounted sending pumps and a street sweeper to Rock Valley to assist with sanitary-sewer pumping and road sweeping after a local incident.

He noted the department helped haul roughly 75 loads of dirt from a development near the new school, assisted the Parks Department by running a water line to ball fields, and credited resident volunteer help from Bucky Alber. Luke said the city still produces its own blacktop and has managed extra locate-work this year while a fiber contractor operated in alleys. The department installed snow fence north of Unity to reduce drifting by a nursing home and placed a flashing crosswalk sign on J Avenue by the new school.

Staff also reported personnel changes: the city mechanic Don Snider retired on July 5 and a new crew member, Wyatt, began on Sept. 30. Luke said about 42 chip-seal blocks remain and that a payloader is on the replacement schedule for next year. Council members thanked the Street Department for interdepartmental support.

The report provided operational detail but did not include new budget approvals; any capital purchases (such as the payloader) will be handled through the city’s standard budgeting process.