Cheyenne Public Works Department Hits Major Pothole [VIDEO]

Efforts by the Cheyenne Public Works Department to try to fix the city's roads with a new piece of equipment hit a major pothole Monday night.

The City Council voted 5 to 4 to reject a rental agreement with Bergkamp Inc., for a spray injection pothole patcher.

"It's kind of quick right now to say what we're going to do next," said Public Works Director Vicki Nemecek. "We get to recommend; they get to decide."

If the council had approved the rental agreement, the city would have been able to try out the fully automated pothole patcher for six months at a cost of $53,550.

"There is no one in our area that has this," said Nemecek. "We would be the first to try it."

"I will at least support the trial," said Councilman Dr. Mark Rinne, saying residents constantly ask him, "Why don't you guys fix the darn potholes?"

But others on the council weren't sold on the idea.

"We are facing a very tough economic climate," said Councilman Dicky Shanor.

"We spend $8 million a year and I don't think $50,000 is that much," said Nemecek. "Pothole patching is our most requested service."

Right now, the city has two patch trucks which require three-person crews to operate.

"Six boots on the ground," said Nemecek. "We'll see what we can do to get new technology down the road, what we have to do to make that happen and what it would take for the council to agree."