Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lead Service Replacement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marshfield Utilities approves funding commitment and forwards lead-service ordinance to council
Summary
The commission approved committing funds to support private-side lead service replacements, voted to forward a draft ordinance to Common Council for first reading and adopted a replacement schedule contingent on council approval.
Marshfield Utilities commissioners voted to support the utility's private-side lead service replacement program by approving a staff recommendation to commit commission-designated funds and to forward a draft ordinance to the Common Council for consideration.
Why it matters: Replacing lead and galvanized water service lines reduces residents' exposure to lead in drinking water and moves the city toward compliance with state and federal expectations for lead mitigation.
Staff told commissioners the utility is targeting the July 8 Common Council meeting for two related actions: a resolution to provide 100% principal forgiveness for eligible private-side replacements and a separate action to secure 25% via a general obligation mechanism for a 75/25 program. Nick, Marshfield Utilities general manager, said staff forecasted project development and bond counsel costs and recommended the commission consider authorizing up to $550,000 from the commission's designated fund to support the private-side program.
Commissioners discussed schedule and equity issues. Nick and staff said the utility currently knows of about 93 private-side services with lead and about 600 public-side lead services; staff reported roughly 57 public-side replacements have already been completed this year. The proposed schedule would complete known private-side replacements by the end of next year, complete public-side replacements by the end of 2027, and finish gooseneck replacements (services between main and curb) by 2030.
The commission moved and passed a motion to forward the draft lead-service replacement ordinance to the Common Council for approval. Commissioners then adopted the schedule for replacements contingent on council approval of the ordinance.
One commissioner suggested celebrating milestones when private- or public-side lead services are fully removed; staff said they would consider outreach and stakeholder engagement at milestone events. Staff also noted there are practical risks that could require schedule adjustments, including weather, contractor availability, materials supply and funding changes.
All motions carried by voice vote as recorded in the meeting; individual roll-call tallies were not read into the record at the commission meeting.
