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Coldwater council adopts project plan for lead service line replacements
Summary
The Coldwater City Council adopted Resolution 25-53 to submit a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund project plan to EGLE seeking $3 million for lead service line replacement, focusing initially on Ward 4 and anticipating construction next summer if funded.
The Coldwater City Council on Monday adopted Resolution 25-53 to submit a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund project plan to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) seeking $3 million to replace lead service lines.
The plan, presented during a public hearing, would fund full replacement of lead service lines, with an initial focus on Ward 4. Diane, a senior engineer at Fishbeck, told the council the plan will be submitted this week for EGLE review and scoring; if the project makes the funding list, construction would be anticipated next summer.
The project application seeks $3 million drawn from remaining Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds administered through EGLE’s drinking water state revolving fund. “We are, CBPU is applying for $3,000,000 to aid in the lead service line replacements,” Diane said. She described alternatives considered and said the city is opting for full replacement because lead is no longer an acceptable material in the system.
Diane said the plan concentrates work in Ward 4, and that the city’s inventory shows “just over 800” remaining services with lead; earlier replacement rounds reduced the initial count of about 1,200 to roughly 800. She said the city intends to bid 456 services in Ward 4 to contractors and to perform additional replacements with city crews as capacity allows.
Council discussion included cost estimates and payback mechanics. A councilor asked how the first 400 services were paid for; a staff member said those were paid up front by the city and later reimbursed by the state. Diane and staff provided estimated per-service costs: about $4,000 when done by city crews and roughly $11,000 for contractual work. The plan estimates a possible residential rate impact of about $2.20 per month under a worst-case scenario if additional principal forgiveness is not available.
Councilors voted to adopt Resolution 25-53; the motion carried. The resolution authorizes submission of the project plan and the city to pursue available state loan and principal-forgiveness options through EGLE.
The public hearing portion of Monday’s meeting closed with no public comments. The council recorded no additional conditions on the resolution; staff said they will proceed with submission and await EGLE scoring and the agency’s funding list.
