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Request from the Director of Public Works to purchase a pneumatic drill to assist in the repair of water cuts.
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The Department of Public Work's Sanitation and Street Division annually repairs approximately 100 water cuts in concrete pavement. The repair of these cuts necessitates the installation of between 30 and 40 5/8"epoxy coated steel dowels into the adjoining pavement to assure that the new pavement repair will remain stationary and in place. In preparation for the installation of the dowels, holes are horizontally drilled into the concrete to a depth of 6" every 12 inches along the perimeter of the repair. This means that approximately 3,000 to 4,000 holes are drilled each year.
Heretofore, the Street and Sewer personnel have done this drilling manually. It is both time consuming and, of even greater concern, exposes the employees to injury due to the nature of the work. In an effort to have a more efficient operation and substantially reduce the exposure to injury, the Department, herein, is seeking permission to purchase a heavy-duty pneumatic drill this year. This purchase was not budgeted as part of the Department's operating budget, however, since the drill will, for all intents and purposes, be used exclusively for the repair of water utility cuts, the projected $6,700 purchase price would be available from water utility funds.
I am available to answer any questions council members may have regarding this request.