Officials with the City of Laurel this week approved new equipment purchases while also working to establish a new policy regarding unstopping sewer service lines.

The Laurel City Council voted unanimously to purchase new equipment to assist employees in handling sewer service lines.

During a meeting of the Public Works Committee of the City Council last week officials said there was a need to establish a new policy that would help reduce overtime of city employees while continuing to provide residents with efficient customer service.

Ralph Gorenflo, project manager for United Water – which has been operating the city’s water and sewer services in October 2006 – said a majority of the calls concerning sewer service lines are on the weekend and after hours, thus resulting in overtime for employees.

One way to help with this matter, the committee proposed to the entire council that the city purchase three hydraulic manhole lifters.

According to documents submitted to the City Council, the equipment is needed “in order to allow an employee to lift a manhole cover without assistance.”

The City Council unanimously with a 7-0 vote approved the purchase of the equipment along with other items this week.

The order approved by the council states that “there is a need to purchase three hydraulic manhole lifters to be mounted on truck #310, truck #332 and truck #358.”

The document states that the three manhole lifters from Rock Mills Enterprises Inc. will cost $3,795 each for a total purchase of $11,385.

Meanwhile, city officials said they will be drafting a policy/letter regarding the unstopping of sewer lines that will be available to residents upon request of services.

Officials said a majority of the calls requesting the city come out for sewer line service have resulted in not being on city property.

“A large percentage of the calls are the result of tree roots growing up in sewer lines and causing problems. A lot of times the resident doesn’t know what the problem is until someone goes out and see,” said Dennis Keveryn, the City of Laurel’s chief administrative officer. “We are now just trying to get a grip on this and determine how this matter can be better handled.”

Keveryn said the city has conducted two meetings where plumbers doing work in the city have been invited. However, only six plumbers have been represented.

“We’ve met on this and we invited them all to come,” Keveryn said. “We wanted to talk to the plumbers so they would know what to look for when they get there; so they would know whether it’s a city or a private individual’s problem.”

Although the city will not be recommending plumbers, officials said, when residents call about the matter and it is determined not to be a city matter, the resident will be given a list of certified plumbers — derived from the meetings — as a customer service.

The City of Laurel is expected to consider the second and final reading of a city ordinance regarding building permits and regulations. Also during next week’s meeting, the council will consider making some changes to the city’s insurance plans.

In other business this week, the City Council approved the second and final reading of an ordinance regulating the city’s building permits and privilege licenses.

Officials said the purpose and intent of the changes are to govern certain activities occurring in the City of Laurel.

The approved ordinance indicates that persons doing repairs over $1,000 will need a privilege license.

The ordinance will regulate people doing business within the corporate limits of the city involved in any building trades – including but not limited to carpentry, roofing, painting, landscaping, antenna installation, dry wall contracting, fire alarm systems, burglar alarm systems and fire protection, or in any capacity which may be considered under the term “general contractor.”

Based on the approved document, no person shall be allowed to do any of these jobs without first obtaining a license to do business within the city.

Officials said the goal of requiring the privilege license is to allow the city to obtain some information on people doing work here.

Officials said the proposed changes are not designed to penalize people.

In other business, the council agreed to allow the administration to enter a contract for comprehensive insurance coverage on first responder fire trucks.

According to documents submitted to the council, the premium amount for this coverage is $6,386 for March 15, 2010-March 15, 2011.

The council also approved adding an uninsured motorist clause to the city’s existing contract with Mississippi Municipal Service Company.

The clause will include coverage for city vehicles that are 2007 models or newer.