Ravenna City Council approves spending of $7,535 for new sewer cleaning heads

Ordinance number 2018-046 was approved at May’s Ravenna City Council meeting for new sewer cleaning heads. 

The ordinance was proposed by City Engineer, Bob Finney, and was backed by Matt Harper, the representative for Ward 3. With there being multiple different diameters of sewer lines throughout the city, cleaning them is an issue sometimes. This ordinance will bring about three new sewer heads that will help eliminate some of these problems.

“Recently the city upgraded their sewer jet machine,” Finney said. “It’s about a $400,000 machine, but for whatever reason they didn’t, with the machine, they didn’t purchase these cleaning nozzles that go inside.”

These current sewer heads have the capability to go in and take roots out but these new ones will allow for the removal of concrete and other debris as well. With multiple sized sewer lines, this ordinance will go towards purchasing three different sized heads to accommodate the city’s needs. The sewer heads will cost $7,535 and will come from the Streets and Sidewalks Committee fund.

While speaking to Ward 1 Councilman, Paul Moskun, Finney revealed that the drains are commonly 12 inches in diameter throughout the city. Even with this new ordinance, the largest sewer head is only going to be 10 inches in diameter. After Moskun expressed concern over this, Finney assured him that these will still be an asset. Though only 10 inches in diameter, they will be able to move straight through the pipes and clean up any blockages or debris that may be stuck.

This ordinance all comes ahead of the city’s plan to rerun some sewer lines. Kathy Hann, the clerk for Ravenna City Council, said that next month will be a much more interesting meeting. With the city planning to charge landlords for the new sewer lines to be run, they are not happy about it and come in large numbers to voice their objections.

“Next month we’ll see 20 or some odd slum lords in here,” Hann said. “They will have to pay for these new lines to be run and they come with the craziest ideas on what the city should do for them.”

This ordinance for the new sewer lines to be run has not yet been approved, but is on the agenda for next month’s meeting.