Each spring the Special Improvement District hits the
sidewalks with steam cleaning and power washing machines.
After all is said and done, the end result looks great. But due to size and cost, this process can be utilized only once a year,
until now.

Begun this spring, the Environmental Services Division introduced
a new and more effective piece of equipment to its cleaning arsenal. The Tenant 7400 Power Washer is fully equipped with a 70-gallon water disbursement tank, a 70-gallon water recovery tank, cleaning fluid compartment, two main scrubbing brushes,
one side brush and vacuum recovery capabilities.

The old power washing method, which only blanketed three city blocks per day, required a pickup truck, a HydraTech power washer and subsequently shut down each block that was being cleaned at that time due to the amount of water pressure being exuded.

"Although merchants and casinos have been satisfied with the cleaning of trash, the sidewalks would appear grimy a few weeks after being steam cleaned." Co-Chairmen Frank Glaser and Pamela Popielarski said. A new method of sidewalk cleaning had to be found.

"We asked our subcontractors, ABM, to look into other cities worldwide to help us find an economical and practical solution," Special Improvement District Executive Director Don Guardian said. "The cost of steam cleaning with the HydraTech, pickup truck and labor ran $44 per hour. The Tenant 7400 and Labor only costs $20 per hour to operate."

With the new Tenant 7400, city blocks remain open to pedestrian foot traffic as the cleaning of nearly eight city blocks per day takes place from May through October. "This is one of the reasons the Special Improvement District continues to subcontract with a major national cleaning company for Environmental Services, " Glaser and Popielarski added. "They are always on the leading edge of cleaning solutions."

More importantly, there are no additional costs with instituting this cleaning method, a key concern for the Special Improvement District's Board of Directors. Although this new and improved method has solved many problems, steam cleaning still is necessary to remove gum and achieve deep cleaning. The eight additional cleanings per season, in addition to daily sweeping and vacuuming, will make a remarkable difference on
streets for years to come.

Call Environmental Services Manager, Dan Pirillo, at 344-8338 or email at dpirillo@acsid.com