Council adopts ordinance requiring replacement of lead and galvanized water service lines

Nicholas, general manager of Marshfield Utilities, presented the ordinance on a second reading and said it establishes a requirement to replace lead and galvanized water service lines and grants authority to develop a replacement schedule and an associated enforcement mechanism. "The notice provision now includes a defined timeline associated with inspections to provide more clarity," Nicholas said, and he said the enforcement section was rewritten to outline actionable steps and an updated fine schedule. He told the council that the proposed fines were consistent with practices in other Wisconsin cities and that the proposed upper fine is higher than some peer cities: "The upper end ... we kept it at the $2,50, just to be, you know, really the goal here is to get them replaced." City Attorney Wolfgram reviewed the ordinance and "didn't have any concerns," Nicholas said, although Wolfgram noted the enforcement structure differs from other municipal code enforcement sections. The utility commission and the Marshfield utilities team recommended approval. Alderman Giles moved approval and Alderman Krehan seconded; the council voted and the motion passed. The ordinance creates section 14-03 of the Marshfield Municipal Code and gives the utility authority to set and carry out a replacement schedule and fee structure to address noncompliance. The council approved the ordinance on second reading at the meeting; the utility and staff said the goal is replacement rather than using fines as a revenue source.