Cambridge City is prioritizing acquiring two vehicles for snow removal and water, park and cemetery maintenance.
Joe Webb, public works superintendent, acknowledged receiving a lot of complaints about street conditions during the recent heavy snow.
He asked council during its Feb. 9 meeting for help in replacing a stolen snow plow and other aging vehicles for multiple responsibilities. One of the town’s trucks is a 1991 model.
Webb said he’s down three trucks and had to use his personal truck and trailer to get snow moved and meters thawed, and another employee has used his own truck for water tasks.
One resident who attended the meeting noted that essential medical employees need to get to work and waiting until 8 or 9 inches of snow fall before clearing begins is too late. The town is responsible for clearing roads when snow is over 3 inches.
Councilor Gary Cole rode with a plow driver and said he gained new appreciation for how hard town employees work to clear snow despite equipment problems.
Council authorized Webb to pursue quotes for new, used and leased vehicles to replace a dump truck and a pickup truck, and to seek bids from snow removal companies for clearing sidewalks and other public areas as needed.
Council previously budgeted $30,000 from Economic Development Income Tax funds for vehicle upgrades and can also utilize water funds.
Water projects
Aiming to address discolored water, the town is pursuing the purchase of a more complete chemical feed system from another community to filter water at Gateway Industrial Park. It’s also changing procedures regarding flushing and backflushing lines. After electrical work and permitting, it could be operational in less than a month. Council hired Wessler Engineering for engineering services up to $10,000.
Now that backwashing will require more water use, officials will obtain an estimate for cleaning the backwash pond. It should be done every five years but has never been cleaned.
Council also hired Wessler for state-required water loss audits at $4,000 each for the town and industrial park systems.
Wessler Engineering’s Adam Sitka gave an update on plans relocating electrical controls system at the town’s treatment plant to lift it above the flood plain. Designing and building a platform for a permanent generator costs less than a portable generator. Council approved hiring Wessler for engineering work.
Feral cats
Councilor Gary Cole said feral cats on East Church likely will be trapped in mid-March for spaying/neutering. Animal Care Alliance will charge $60 each. Council authorized spending as much of the donation fund as needed.
In other business
- Trash: Clerk-Treasurer Sherry Ervin will pursue bids for trash pickup. The five-year contract with Rumpke expires March 31.
- Sewer board: The town needs to fill two vacancies on Western Wayne Regional Sewer District board. One is a year appointment and the other is through 2029.
- Fire service: East Germantown paid its 2025 contract and Jackson Township paid its 2026 contract.
- Donations: Approved $100 from Study Farms to the fire department and $244 found in a bag of receipts and trash for the fire department’s Christmas lights.
- Creitz Park rental: Approved the Joe Show car event Sept. 27.
A version of this article appeared in the February 18 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.