Resident questions Chandler's lead service-line outreach, urges focus on aging infrastructure

A Chandler resident told the City Council on Jan. 23 that a recent letter about a lead service-line inventory, which she said was dictated by the U.S. EPA, risked confusing homeowners and could lead to invasive investigations of private property.

"This letter is manure," said Jenny Vitale of 3321 North Nebraska Street, referring to the written notice residents received about the inventory. Vitale told the council City of Chandler performed a lead-service inventory in 1992 and questioned why the city would again spend what staff estimated could be as much as $2 million to hire contractors to pothole on private property to find service lines. She said the city should instead prioritize aging valves and failing infrastructure that already require repair.

Vitale also raised legal concerns about entering private property without homeowner consent and described recent problems getting curb stop valves repaired at her home. She identified city staff members John Knudson and Sal (last name not stated) as staff she had spoken with about the issue and asked council to press staff to reconcile required state or federal actions with neighborhood impacts.

Vice Mayor Ellis acknowledged the concern and said staff should re-examine how the city can reconcile state agency requirements with residents' expectations. "It is important that we go back now and backtrack and work something out," Ellis said. Council did not direct a formal policy change at the meeting; members asked staff to review the process and provide an update to council and residents.