Newer Jet Vac Truck being used by Jeffereson Public Works. Photo courtesy of Public Works Director Dave Morlan

A newer piece of equipment in the city of Jefferson was brought about by the Public Works Department.

City Administrator Scott Peterson says the Council approved purchasing a jet vac truck for $275,000. He states that before the city would use a contractor to address blockages and provide maintenance to the infrastructure in town. Peterson compares what the city had in terms of a truck that provides some of those services and what they have now.

“And we’ve had for years have had a jetter that can do that work and clear up blockage. But what that does is just uses high pressure water to get that done. This new jet vac truck also uses high pressure water, but it also is vacuuming everything out at the same time. So it’s not that you’re just pushing things down the line, you’re actually vacuuming out anything that would be in the sewers.”    

Peterson explains that the cost of the used 2016 Freightliner Jet Vac Truck from Elliott Equipment would be split between the Sewer and Water Departments, with the Sewer Capital Fund contributing $175,000 and the Water Capital Fund of $100,000. He says the Water Department would also use it to clean out its tanks and lines as well. Peterson acknowledges these departments for having the initiative to do this and to provide enhanced services across the city.