Houston Alexander of Placer Engineering told the Village of Saint Charles Council the village expects delays on several state and federal grant announcements but is moving ahead with planning for water-service line replacements and sidewalk safety work.

Alexander said the TMF-funded work that located lead and galvanized service lines will include a TMF application to replace lead service lines. "So the village of Saint Charles will be completely lead free, and we can kinda sleep sleep well at night in that regard," Alexander said, referring to Phase 1 work that will replace the four confirmed lead lines discovered during earlier work. He added the TMF program posted new State Revolving Fund (SRF) project-planning criteria and noted an intent-to-apply filing deadline of Nov. 1 for part 90 (project planning) for eligible applicants.

Alexander also said Phase 2 water-main improvements, funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, remain delayed pending state and federal timelines. He said about 70-plus galvanized water services remain that cannot be proven never had lead components; those will require later replacement and a further application to TMF/SRF funding. On sidewalks and Safe Routes work, Alexander said corridor modeling and sidewalk profiling are underway, title research and permit applications are in progress and an archaeological survey has begun; he noted the survey could affect timelines if artifacts or burials are located.

Councilmembers asked questions about where the sidewalk work will run and whether it will cross cemetery or former dump properties; staff clarified the sidewalk will cross near the apartments and will not route on the cemetery side. Alexander said the TMF-funded project planning does not cost the village local funds but the village must meet new eligibility criteria to be competitive for SRF/TMF dollars.

No formal funding appropriation was adopted at this meeting; Alexander's update framed next steps, grant deadlines and coordination tasks for staff and consultants.