City Briefs

Solo photographer show at civic center

The Rotating Art Gallery in the Shelton Civic Center usually features works by two or three local artists, but the new exhibit spotlights the works of one, photographer Deborah Chava Singer.

The Shelton City Council approved the exhibit at its Feb. 21 meeting. Her five nature photos were installed Tuesday and will remain on display through May 31 on the first floor of the Civic Center.

Singer was the only artist to submit works for consideration by the Shelton Arts Commission, which makes recommendations to the City Council.

City moves to buy pothole truck

The Shelton City Council is scheduled to give final approval at its meeting Tuesday to spend up to $280,000 on a new truck to patch potholes.

The council voted unanimously at its Feb. 21 to give preliminary approval to the purchase.

The city's current patch truck is more than 26 years old and maintenance costs are increasing, Brent Armstrong of the city's Public Works Department told the council.

"As you can see, it's in rough shape," he said as he showed photos of the truck.

A new patch truck will provide for improved road repair quality, more reliable operation in a timely fashion and will decrease repair and maintenance costs, Armstrong said.

The city maintains more than 118 miles of paved streets, he said.

The attachments to the truck include a jack hammer, oil sprayer and asphalt spreader. Mason County's Public Works Department has the same model, and gave a demonstration to city employees, Armstrong said.

"The new design is safer and a lot more efficient," he said.

The city staff is already trained in this style of truck, Armstrong added.

City eyes purchase of new camera van

The Shelton City Council is scheduled to give final approval at its meeting Tuesday to spending $257,000 out of the city's sewer and storm fund for a new camera van to better document the condition of sewer and storm lines.

The council voted unanimously at its Feb. 21 to give preliminary approval to the purchase.

The city's current camera van is more than 20 years old, Brent Armstrong of the city's Public Works Department told the council. Most of the equipment and software is outdated, failing, and no longer available or upgradable, his report states.

As part of the state's new stormwater permit, the city must document and record the condition of sewer and storm lines "which are vital for maintaining safety, storm water quality, minimize backups and pipeline integrity throughout the City," it says.

"The technology is good, so we'd like to stay with the same vendor," Armstrong said.

The new truck will allow the city to update maps, and find repairs that need to be made, he said.