Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lead Service Line Funding Delays topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wausau utility says state delays in DNR closings force city to carry lead service-line costs
Summary
City staff told the Wausau Waterworks Commission that Wisconsin DNR delays in closing previously awarded Safe Drinking Water Act funds are forcing the city to front millions for lead service-line replacement work already finished or underway.
Eric, director of utilities, told the Wausau Waterworks Commission on April 8 that the city has completed lead service-line replacement projects but has not received state loan closings from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the 2024 awards and is concerned about the 2025 funding timeline.
The director said the city applied for 2024 DNR funding, was awarded or obligated funds late in 2023 and finished the project in late November 2024, but “we still haven't seen those '24 funds yet, or even got a closing on those.” He added that the city is already advancing work for 2025 and expects “about a million dollars a month of work being done,” creating a cash-flow strain if state closings do not occur promptly.
Why it matters: the utility said the city is carrying the cost while waiting for state loan closings. The director said the mayor and local legislators have contacted DNR leadership and the governor's office seeking a resolution. He warned that, without action, the city cannot sustainably carry the projected monthly expenses tied to the 2025 program.
Commissioners pressed staff about escalation and timing. A commissioner noted similar delays in other municipalities and asked whether the city had received any payments; staff replied, “we haven't received anything,” and estimated it would be “6 to 8 weeks before we actually close on those loans” once a schedule is set.
The discussion also touched on contractual language. Staff said an amended contract adopted by the city council was fully executed in early January and that prior DNR concerns over key performance indicators and contract language had been addressed. But staff said the remaining obstacle appears to be DNR's internal processing and scheduling.
The commission heard that staff have escalated the matter within state government, including repeated contacts with DNR leadership and outreach from the mayor and legislators. The utility director described efforts to “work within the system” and also to “work a little bit outside of the system to try to bring some pressure” on the DNR to complete closings.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to continue coordination with elected officials and the DNR; no formal action was taken by the commission during the April 8 meeting on this item.
