Walled Lake — The city received a technical briefing from Drew Sandell, chief engineer of sewer systems at the county Water Resources Commissioner's office, on repair methods, costs and funding options for private sewer leads, and later voted to table a proposed change to Chapter 82 (utility sewer services).

Sandell told council that most sewer mains in the system were installed in the 1970s and that the city’s sewer system measures roughly 143,000 linear feet, serving about 2,100 customers. He said an estimated 7,200 linear feet of laterals scored in the mid-range of deterioration — "on the order of, like, 7,200 linear feet, that needs to be lined." He described typical lead materials (clay) and common failure modes: root infiltration, grease and "flushable" wipes, and defective taps that let soil infiltrate the main.

Why it matters: lateral repairs can be costly and disruptive. Sandell gave a range of technical options — excavation and replacement, lining launched from inside the house, lining launched from the sewer main, installing a new cleanout and lining from there, and impermeable grouting (acrylamide grout) — and summarized typical costs. "These repairs are running, on average, about $10,000," he said; he also described worst-case dig-up scenarios that can reach "about $40,000." Lining costs vary with diameter and conditions; Sandell gave a per-foot range of roughly $200 to $500 in his remarks.

Sandell emphasized that sewer laterals are generally private property and not inspected end-to-end by the county: "Typically speaking, the sewer leads are private as you're well aware." He said the county inspects mains and can pan/tilt into a lead but cannot fully assess a lateral without launching CCTV into the lateral itself. He also noted legal and funding constraints: "You're not liable if there is a defect in the sewer lead," and said the county currently cannot spend public funds on private property without a clear legal change or resolution by the city. Sandell reported that the city has about $1,100,000 in combined reserves across capital improvement, major maintenance and emergency funds.

Council discussion and action: After questions from council about counts and who bears costs when a lined main requires reopening laterals, councilors asked for more information. The meeting later advanced an agenda item to amend Chapter 82 (utility sewer services), but council voted to table that ordinance and seek additional input from staff, the city attorney and the city engineer before proceeding.

Directives, distinctions: The briefing produced technical direction and information, not a policy decision. Sandell recommended CCTV inspection of laterals before repair work and outlined funding options council could consider later: homeowner-pay repairs, special assessment districts, drawing on reserves, or creating a third-party insurance program where a private insurer covers lateral repairs for a deductible. He also said the community’s earlier application to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) was judged not fundable at this time.

Council members said more time was needed to weigh costs, legal authority and rate impacts. Council voted to table the first-reading ordinance amendment to allow staff and counsel to develop language and to return with additional information.

Ending: Council members and staff agreed to continue work sessions on the topic; no ordinance change was adopted at the meeting and no new city policy on lateral ownership was enacted.