Residual Cleanup from Rains
Public Works crews removed excess mud and dirt that had accumulated on various street areas from the recent rains. The areas primarily included the Terraces, and “old” Tremont. Most of the mud & dirt was removed with the use of our backhoe, shovels, and other tools. The goal of the cleanup effort is to restore the streets to their pre-storm condition, and to minimize the risk of damage to vehicles or public property. Thanks to our crews, most of our street areas are now fully clear.
Dead Tree Removal
A second dead/unsightly olive tree was removed from a planter on Front Street. Crews trimmed the tree down as much as possible. The remaining trunk & root ball was removed with the use of our telehandler. Crews will continue to perform work on improving the planter, and eventually plant a small palm tree there. A shade sail may be installed by Community Services in the future to take place of the tree. The goal of this ongoing project is to ensure the safety of the public and the maintenance of a clean and attractive environment along the waterfront.
Street Curb Work
Two areas of street curb were repaired this week. A tree had recently fallen on Sumner that was mentioned in a previous update. Crews removed the remnants from the tree, and repaired the street curb. Pavers will eventually be put in place of the tree well. A section of street curb was also repaired across from the Casino Way restrooms. Curb work such as this requires cutting out any broken or damaged concrete sections. Wooden forms and rebar are then installed to allow concrete to be poured to form the new curb. The concrete typically takes 24-48 hours to fully cure depending on weather conditions. Once it is fully cured the wooden forms are then removed. The new curb is then touched up and painted. Curb work is prioritized and done throughout the year as time allows.
Pumpout Dock Shoreside Work
As mentioned in last week’s update, the existing pumpout dock was closed as of Monday this week. It will remain closed for the next two weeks to allow us to install the new pumpout equipment & sewer system. Harbor Maintenance crews worked on removing the deteriorated portions of the concrete seawall there. Wooden forms were then installed to allow concrete to be poured to form the new seawall. A concrete platform is also to be installed adjacent the hose guide to allow crews to access the shoreline area safely. Public Works crews also helped with the sewer portion of the project. Our Ditch Witch was used to thoroughly clean the existing pump station and sewage wet well. Public Works also inspected the existing sewer line with our sewer camera that eventually leads to the sewer main the runs underneath St. Catherine’s Way. The inside of the sewer piping was found to be mostly solidified with old calcified material that cannot be cleared. Public Works crews will have to expose and replace a 100’ section of the sewer lateral piping by manually trenching the area, which will be started next week. Further updates to be provided.
Garage Update
As usual, our mechanics were very busy this week working on patrol boats. Several patrol boats were in need of scheduled maintenance, and other urgent repairs. Some common boat repairs include fixing engines and electrical systems, replacing worn or damaged hull components, repairing damaged decks, and fixing leaks. Additionally, mechanics may perform routine maintenance tasks such as checking and replacing fluids and filters, adjusting steering systems, and performing safety inspections. To perform these tasks, mechanics use a variety of tools and equipment, as well as specialized diagnostic equipment to diagnose and repair problems. The goal of these repairs is to ensure the boats are in good working order and ready for use by the harbor patrol. Another urgent repair included reinstalling the hydraulic cylinders on our fire ladder truck. The cylinders were sent to the mainland several weeks ago to be refurbished, and were recently returned to us. This repair was necessary to have our ladder truck fully functional again, and allow it to be used safely.