HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05.bPublic Works
)February 2012
➢ Winter Maintenance
Beyond the everyday activities involved in the
production of potable water and maintenance
of the sanitary sewer system are many
incidental activities on which both the water
and sewer systems depend. Among these are
the maintenance of equipment and
infrastructure. Utilities Division staff have been
concentrating on a couple of projects, one to
refurbish the frame on a generator and
another to repaint water pipes in the Water
Treatment Facility pipe gallery. The frame on
the generator was showing some signs of
corrosion; staff removed flaking paint, sanded
down the rust spots, and prepped the latches
for painting. With the frame primed and
painted, it was returned to a like new
condition, extending the
service life of the unit. The
division uses this generator to
power lift stations during
power outages and shuttles it
between lift stations to control
sewage levels until power
returns. In the pipe gallery,
there is the potential for the
pipes to corrode. Even though
the space is dehumidified, if
the coating is not properly
maintained, moisture can lead
to rusting of the pipes' exterior.
Staff erected scaffolding
LAKEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS
Christopher Petree, Director
February 2012
around the pipes to be painted. Utilities Division staff then cleaned the pipes and
repainted them to keep corrosion from gaining a foothold. It is a matter of pride
for the staff to keep the facility in top condition and shows their commitment to
the production of clean water for the residents.
➢ Fleet Maintenance
It may not have been much of a winter, so far,
but that doesn't mean that things are any Tess
hectic for fleet maintenance staff. Recently, the
wing of a snowplow hit a manhole casing,
sticking up a mere three - eighths of an inch
above the asphalt. This caused the toe of the
wing to dig into the asphalt and broke the wing
frame and supports. That truck was in one of
the maintenance bays in preparation to have
the wing reattached. Hydraulic lines on one of
the snow blowers were showing signs of wear
and needed replacement. One technician
measured out new hose, installed connectors
and replaced the worn hose. In another bay,
one of the sidewalk machines was having
problems with its hydrostatic
controls, causing the
machined to move forward
and backward erratically; the
technician replaced the control
cable and completed some
ancillary maintenance before it
went out again in the most
recent storm. In another bay,
one of the Fire Department
vehicles was having its fuel
pump replaced. This required
pumping the gas out of the
tank, removing the tank from
the vehicle and replacing the
fuel pump. With the size of the fleet and the priority placed
equipment by the seasons, the fleet maintenance area if always active.
on pieces of
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Pavement Management Projects
Major street reconstruction projects can
be the focus of effort with their impact
on residents and the transportation
infrastructure. However, no less
important are the smaller projects
grouped under miscellaneous repairs.
These include mill and overlay projects,
curb and gutter replacement, large
pavement patches, and trail and
sidewalk repairs. Occurring throughout
the City each summer, these repairs
concentrate on maximizing the service life of the
transportation infrastructure. Engineering
Division staff are deeply involved in preparing
for each year's repairs, reviewing road
conditions, measuring areas, and developing
the plans and specifications. Annual projects of
this nature are important in maintaining a viable
infrastructure and in dealing with those smaller
areas that need a spot fix to preserve the
integrity of the road surface.
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