Ever wonder what the city does with the fees collected for golf cart and UTV permits? City Clerk Ryan Turner says the city has used a portion of that revenue to buy a new squad car for the police department’s detective.
Turner also reports that the new horizontal drilling machine should arrive in the next few days. The $193,933 machine will support the city’s water and sewer maintenance operations. Turner said the city has spent nearly $20,000 in recent months renting drilling services whenever crews needed to bore under sidewalks, driveways, and roadways during water and sewer repairs. Turner explained that the city’s previous equipment has broken down, and outside contractors are not always available—leaving lines exposed longer than is safe and forcing crews in some cases to dig through yards or driveways instead of drilling beneath them. Turner said the city initially looked at used equipment, but Vermeer no longer manufactures the model they were considering, making parts difficult or impossible to obtain. The new drill includes all necessary attachments, updated technology, and three days of on-site training for Mt. Carmel crews. He noted that the machine could be used for decades and may eventually generate revenue if the city chooses to offer boring services when residents need them.
Council members agreed the purchase will ultimately pay for itself, since a single drilling job each month would cover the financing cost. The new equipment will allow the water and sewer department to complete repairs more quickly and reliably, especially during heavy winter demand.