The City of Rayne is sharing their new way of tackling blocked drainage systems.
Today, Mayor Chuck Robichaux hosted a training session to teach other representatives from across the state how to clean a culvert system.
It’s a procedure of unclogging tunnels of sludge with a tool made up of steel parts, and it’s likely going to be changing the way some cities deal with drainage issues.
"It’s metal that’s welded together with a downsized to fit in culverts that could collapse a tire and true up the inside of a pipe to pull out all the debris out of the pipe, using heavy duty oilfield cabling and a backhoe,” explained Rayne Mayor Chuck Robichaux.
"We’re bringing cities into our community to train them on drainage improvements for their communities,” added Robichaux.
"It’s mayors getting together and working on a common problem because we all have drainage problems,” said Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine.
Mayor Wendy Perrette and her top advisers have been working closely with Rayne city officials to learn the system and bring it to Bogalusa.
"The city of Rayne was nice enough to make the tools for us. It cost us $1,977, and they built the tools for us and the equipment for it. My men were here today and yesterday learning how to do this,” said Perrette.
Mayor Vidrine says she is also getting the tool in Ville Platte as soon as possible.
"It works in all size culverts. That’s good because, in different cities, you’ve got different size culverts,” explained Vidrine.
This work usually requires outside contractors and costs thousands of dollars, but now cities can clear their culverts quickly and cost-efficiently and can utilize their city employees.
Louisiana Municipal Advisory and Technical Service Advisory will soon begin distributing it to municipalities statewide.
