Council approves $1.83 million contract for lead service line replacements

Saginaw — The Saginaw City Council approved a $1,832,365 contract on June 27 with Rody Brothers Excavating Incorporated for a lead service line replacement project managed by the Public Services Department.

The contract—listed on the consent agenda as item 30—was the subject of extended public questioning from council members about licensing, prevailing wage, subcontracting and the number and cost of service lines to be replaced. City staff said the contractor must work under a licensed plumber and that prevailing-wage requirements apply because of the funding source.

Council member concerns and staff responses: Council members asked whether the workers on site would be licensed plumbers and whether the contractor used union labor. Staff replied that the contract requires a licensed plumber to oversee work on-site and that prevailing wage applies because of federal or state funding rules; staff also said subcontractors must be approved by the city. When asked whether staff had personally seen the plumber’s license, staff said they had reviewed bid documents as part of procurement processes and would verify licenses and payroll compliance during construction.

Scope and cost: Staff estimated the contract would allow replacement of just under 200 lead service lines in this phase, with an approximate cost of about $8,000 per line depending on run length and roadway conditions. City staff characterized this award as an additional phase of a multi-phase lead removal effort and said prior work has already replaced a substantial number of lines; staff offered to provide detailed cumulative numbers to council in a forthcoming report.

Vote: The motion to approve the contract passed on a roll-call vote with seven yes votes and one no vote. Council members voting yes included Council member Sylvia, Council member Seals, Council member Balz, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Council member Braddock, Council member Wiggins and Council member Hammond. Mayor Moore voted no. No abstentions were recorded.

Next steps: The contract award is effective immediately for procurement and preconstruction activities. Staff will hold a preconstruction meeting, verify licensed trades on the job and report back to council as the project proceeds.

Ending: The council’s approval advances a multi-phase plan to remove lead service lines in Saginaw; staff indicated they will provide more complete progress and expenditure reporting to the council and post updated financials to the city’s ARPA/lead-replacement tracking documents.