Fort Atkinson council adopts ordinance to authorize full lead service line replacements

The Fort Atkinson City Council on Sept. 16 adopted an ordinance creating authority to require full replacement of lead water service lines on both the public and private sides of service connections. Director Navan told the council the city is required to complete a Wisconsin DNR-approved lead service line replacement plan and that the ordinance provides the legal authority needed to carry out full replacements and to seek funding and loan programs to offset costs. “The intent and purpose of the ordinance is to create a legal authority for full replacement of lead service lines on public and private side to ensure full compliance with state and federal requirements for this program,” Director Navan said. The ordinance ties enforcement to existing rules: property owners who fail to replace the customer-side lead service line as required may have water service discontinued, Navan said, and the ordinance references PSC requirements for customer-side replacements. City staff told the council there will be no immediate cost to property owners until the city’s lead service line program is approved and construction begins, and that adoption would allow the city to apply for funding and provide low-interest loan options for private-side work. Council members voted to suspend the rules and perform a third and final reading, then enact the ordinance. The roll-call vote recorded Councilman Huckabee, Councilman Leskoher, Councilman Schultz and President Schakel voting aye; the motion carried. The ordinance will let the city proceed with a state-approved replacement plan, apply for available funding, and use loan programs to reduce property-owner costs once the program moves to construction.