GROSSE POINTE FARMS — It’s an expensive piece of equipment, but Grosse Pointe Farms officials believe it’s a worthwhile investment.

At a July 8 meeting, the Farms City Council voted unanimously to spend $507,730.58 on a Vactor sewer cleaner. The price of the specialized truck was determined through a state competitive bidding process for government and fleet sales. Public Service Director Matthew Baka said $510,000 is budgeted for the expenditure in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

“It’s important to keep our sewer lines clean from a stormwater management perspective,” said City Manager Shane Reeside. “Grosse Pointe Park has spent over $1.5 million in recent years cleaning its sewer lines.”

The Farms has more than 1,600 catch basins and miles of storm drains, Reeside said. He said the city cleans the catch basins “constantly.”

“The equipment is used every week,” Reeside said. “Sometimes it’s even used every day.”

The new Vactor replaces an existing one. The average lifespan of a Vactor truck is about 15 years, but Reeside said the Farms had their Vactor for 22 years because city staff maintained it well.

Reeside said the city’s current Vactor truck is out of service and they have had to borrow that vehicle from neighboring municipalities under an informal reciprocity agreement. Councilman Joe Ricci said renting a Vactor truck for four hours costs about $2,600.

“It’s very expensive,” Ricci said.

City Councilman John Gillooly, who also represents municipalities in his legal work, said the Vactor truck is “indispensable” because it protects the city from liability claims.

“Other communities are hungry for this type of equipment” but can’t afford it, Gillooly said. “I think this (the purchase) is a very, very good recommendation from the city.”

City Councilwoman Beth Konrad Wilberding agreed, saying the city “desperately” needs a new Vactor truck.