After having to use contractor’s cameras and continually having issues, city council decided at a meeting Thursday, Aug. 28, that it will purchase a camera for its sewer system.

The camera, Cues Flexitrax C550, came in a “deluxe inspection package” that cost $103,922. The quote was accepted by council unanimously Thursday.

Douthett said the upgrade was needed. He joked the city was previously working with “a flashlight on a stick.”

“This is kind of the future, we’re moving toward a little bit with something like this,” said Councilman Troy Douthett, who motioned for the camera. “So a lot of our sewers are unknown and a lot of our storm drains are unknown.”

Once the camera arrives, Douthett said he plans to spend at least eight hours a week exploring and mapping the city’s sewer and stormwater systems. During that time, they will also be assessing the integrity of the systems.

“We’re going to start getting ahead of things instead of waiting until the road collapses,” Douthett added.

The data collected from the camera system will be sent to the city engineer, which will add it to the city’s geographic system. Douthett said the system was chosen because it operated the best with Butler’s verticality.

“I think the biggest thing is that it was a 30-degree or more incline and nothing else could make it, but this thing went right on through,” he said.

Mayor Bob Dandoy said the city was originally going to wait and include it in next year’s budget, but decided it was better to get the equipment now than wait for a specific need.