WALHALLA — Walhalla City Council is moving forward with the purchase of a Link-Belt trackhoe costing approximately $200,000 to address sediment buildup in the city water plant’s ponds on Lake Keowee.

Wheeled excavators tout a number of benefits, from simplified transport, decreased maintenance and can be used in a variety of applications, from digging and craning to vegetation management.

Many of the features on the most recent generation of excavators enable semi-automatic operation of critical functions. This increases operator efficiency and productivity. “Grade control is ...