With storm water management at the forefront of several community discussions, the Village Council is considering replacing its storm sewer inspection camera at a cost of more than $100,000.

Stan Balicki, assistant public works director, said the tool contains a few components, including a camera so compact it can fit in the palm of a hand.

Balicki said the camera, which will cost $117,364, fits onto a transporter that crawls through the village’s various storm sewer system — which includes pipes that range from six inches to 11 feet in diameter — using a remote control.

Fully submerged in water, rolling through mud or powering through a dip in the pipe, the camera system is made to weather the elements of a dark and damp pipe, Balicki said.

“It’s getting you a visual inspection of something that you otherwise couldn’t get,” Balicki said.

The Public Works Department received three responses to a bid for a replacement camera issued in March. The Village Council is considering awarding the bid to EJ Equipment in Manteno.

The new camera would replace the village’s current storm sewer camera which was purchased along with an inspection vehicle in 2000.

Balicki said the village’s storm sewer inspection camera is used on a daily basis for most of the year. It checks the village’s 128 mile-long storm sewer system for debris, damage or potential for damage.

“It really is a proactive approach to maintaining that system that is really critical to our overall storm water management in Downers Grove,” Balicki said.

Initially, Commissioner Sean P. Durkin had questions over whether the camera was an immediate necessity.

“We’re looking at areas to shave spending and create savings,” Durkin said. “How important is this purchase that we do it this year versus holding off another year?”

According to the village, the camera’s software and technology is becoming outdated and is experiencing increasing breakdowns. Balicki added that the current camera is nearing the end of its life span, which is 10 to 15 years.

“This is a tool that will allow us to better utilize resources and save money in the future,” Village Manager David Fieldman said.

Following Fieldman’s explanation of the need for the new camera and it’s benefit for the future, Durkin said he does support the purchase.

“If it’s going to be an investment to maintain what we are currently going through and future storm (water issues), by all means,” Durkin said.

Commissioner Bruce Beckman said the camera is beneficial in storm sewer infrastructure improvements taking place now, and for those in the future.

“I’m so pleased to see us move forward on this,” Beckman said. “This is one of the items that was sorely needed in the process of being able to manage and investigate this vital portion of our infrastructure development and I’m pleased so see we are able to do it at this time.”

The fiscal 2009 budget includes $100,000 for the purchase of a new storm sewer inspection camera. According to the village, some 2009 contracts in the Storm Water Improvement Fund came in under budget by a total of $72,000. In the case the bid is awarded to EJ Equipment, $17,364 will be applied toward the purchase from those funds.