Gravel pickup will get easier
By Terry Murry on Friday, May 19th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton City Council has approved the purchase of a used Elgin mechanical sweeper for $85,000. The public works department currently rents a mechanical sweeper to perform gravel pickup in the spring. The city owns a vacuum sweeper, which is not used for gravel pickup.
“That process is really hard on a vacuum sweeper,” City Manager Robb Corbett said. “It wears out quickly. The mechanical sweeper makes that process much smoother.”
Instead of vacuuming up the gravel, the mechanical sweeper acts more like a conveyor belt in removing what’s left after winter snow and ice. In past years, the city has rented a mechanical sweeper to perform the gravel removal. That cost will no longer be required.
In addition the city will no longer be restricted to when such a sweeper is available for rental. The mechanical sweeper can also be available to clean up storm damage and construction. Also, the public works department will offer it for rent to other communities when its not in use in Pendleton.
