At Monday’s Kalona City Council meeting city officials made plans to purchase a Vac Star excavator. The machine will be used at times when a water main breaks and the city’s sewer needs to be pumped out. Kalona City Clerk Karen Christner tells KCII News, normally when a water main would break the city would pay someone to pump it out, however over time this has become expensive and the council decided it was time for the city to have its own equipment. Christner also noted the excavator can help clean sewers during routine maintenance. The excavator will cost $28,755 and will be paid for with funds from the local option sales tax fund.