Pearsall upgrades equipment vital to sewer line maintenance

By Breyana Segura at Frio-Nueces Current, December 3, 2020

After learning a heavy piece of equipment used at the sewer plant had been inoperable for three months, Pearsall city councilors approved the purchase of a $290,000 impact combination machine.

“We have been renting a machine for the past three months,” City Manager Federico Reyes said during the November 11 meeting. “It cost around four thousand dollars a month to rent.”
Reyes further noted to repair the antiquated equipment would cost the city $22,000.

The city manager suggested using leftover 2016 bond monies to purchase the impact combination machine outright, however, councilors chose to enter a five-year purchasing agreement through the Kinloch Mile and Mile Lease program. The city will use funds from the water and wastewater utility accounts to pay the $55,000 annual payment.

During a presentation by Daniel Federico, a representative from Freightliner of Austin, councilors learned of the benefits a five-year lease program has to offer.

“The lease comes with a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and whatever is not covered, until the warranty expires, would be covered under the repair and maintenance agreement,” Federico said. Federico ensured councilors if the machine happened to break down during the lease agreement the company would lend the city a machine at no cost.

An impact combination machine is used to clean the sewer line by jetting the lines and vacuuming out debris, according to Public Works Director Hector Gandara.

“We use it daily,” Gandara said. “Probably, on average, three times a day sometimes up to five times. It is very vital to our operations.” Gandara noted the machine could serve a dual purpose and be used to clean storm drains.

The first payment is slated for December 2021.

See the original article: https://www.frio-nuecescurrent.com/2020/12/03/pearsall-upgrades-equipment-vital-to-sewer-line-maintenance/