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2011 ANNUAL REPORT | DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PAGE 3 2011 Vactor Sewer Truck Infiltration Basin at work Removing snow from Edgewood Drive (Jan. 2011) Turf restoration at City Hall (June 2011) Sanitary Sewer In the past, nearly all 44+ miles of the municipal sanitary sewer system is cleaned each year. In 2011, only 80% of the system was cleaned due to revisions in the maintenance schedule and down time with replacement of the vactor sewer truck, which was authorized in January for just over $305,000 plus tax. The wet summer created high ground water that caused breaches in several sanitary sewer mains, whereby causing sand to infiltrate and block flow in the main. These breaks were located around Woodcrest Drive in Area E and another on LaPort Drive near Groveland Road. These breaks were expensive and required dewatering and pavement restoration. Many of the vulnerable sewers in Area E will be replaced in 2012. Stormwater Maintenance for over 150 newly constructed infiltration basins has increased the workload for the stormwater O&M. The challenge for long-term performance of these basins involves keeping sediment out of the basin bottoms where the infiltration occurs. Over time, fine sand and silt carried by storm runoff will build up in the basin bottoms causing infiltration rates to drop. The grass strip at the curb cut is meant to intercept the sediment before reaching the basin infiltration area, and requires removal by maintenance personnel. Pond maintenance and inspection procedures have increased and will continue in 2012. Streets and Trails The winter of 2010/2011 was the fourth snowiest winter of all time for the twin cities region. There were over 30 snow events requiring 288 tons of salt and 3,700 plow truck miles driven. This effort was split nearly 50/50 between 2010 and 2011 for that winter season. The winter of 2011/2012 has been just the opposite, ranking near the bottom of snowiest winters. There were 185 tons of salt used and 2,850 plow truck miles driven in calendar year 2011, with 80% of these totals associated with the 2010/2011 winter. A new snow plowing and ice control policy was adopted in November and replaced the original 1988 version. Parks and Facilities A wet and warm summer during 2011 equated to a great deal of turf maintenance and mowing in the parks and building grounds. Countless hours were spent mowing and many parks required mowing twice a week all summer long. The maintenance crew was also busy dragging ball fields, weed whipping, maintaining landscaping, and keeping equipment in good working order. The in-field of the Greenfield Park ballfield was also reconstructed by the crew to remove grass humps that have built up over time at the interface with the gravel areas. Sidewalk panels were repaired and a handicapped ramp was constructed to better access the east lot at the Community Center.