This new street sweeper will be able to vacuum, spray water and sweep up messes. Photo/ courtesy of Public Works Dept.

This new street sweeper will be able to vacuum, spray water and sweep up messes. Photo/ courtesy of Public Works Dept.

The Petersburg Borough Assembly Monday approved the purchase of a new street sweeper for $213,811.

At the regular meeting, Public Works Director Karl Hagerman said the street sweeper will help clean up the sand that is spread on the roads in the wintertime.

“We can wash streets but that just puts it in the storm drain system which requires more maintenance to get out so it really pays off to have a sweeper to pick that sand and dust off the street before we wash,” he said.

Hagerman said the borough’s old sweeper had maintenance issues and it didn’t last as long as they expected.

The borough's old street sweeper has had maintenance issues. according to Public Works Director, Karl Hagerman. Photo/Angela Denning

The borough’s old street sweeper has had maintenance issues. according to Public Works Director, Karl Hagerman. Photo/Angela Denning


“I believe it’s time to replace it so we can move forward with a unit that does the job,” he said.

Hagerman said they expect the new sweeper to last about 15 years. The assembly agreed to the purchase unanimously.

Also at Monday’s meeting, a public hearing about budget changes to the fiscal year 2016 budget was held but no one spoke to it. The changes include funding additional sewer work on Haugen Drive, totaling up to $180,000. The work would replace man holes and other infrastructure for the utility lines on Haugen Drive. The money would come from reserves from the waste water department.

Other budget changes would allow for purchase of back up computers for the water and waste water departments along with replacement of corroded water boxes discovered during the repaving and utility work on Nordic and Haugen drives.

The fiscal year runs from July 1, 2015-June 30,2016.

The budget ordinance will be up for a third and final reading at the assembly’s next regular meeting, August 3.