Council hears CDBG allocation estimate and multi-year infrastructure, water-main and lead-service replacement plans

Lincoln Park staff told the City Council the city anticipates receiving approximately $774,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from HUD for program year 2025-26, with roughly $674,000 available for project allocations and a public-services cap of about $116,000. The council opened and closed a public hearing on CDBG allocations and staff noted the application deadline remains open through the 20th of the month for prospective applicants.

Hennessy and NSE engineering representatives and the city's public-works director provided a multi-project infrastructure update covering sewer lining, pump-station improvements, water-main replacement phases, and lead service replacements. The engineer presented these highlights on the record:

- The city anticipates sizable grant and low-interest funding streams for water-main and service replacement projects, including a state SRF/grant package described on the record as combined grant and low-interest loan amounts for a proposed 2025 water-main and lead-service replacement project; the firm listed total project cost figures and the planned scope in linear feet and service counts. Staff and the engineering consultant said design work is under way and EGLE/SRF requirements will be followed.

- A 600-lead-service replacement contract (Bridal Excavating) has started and a second 300-service contract (5 Star Energy Services) is scheduled to start in March; those replacements follow a distribution system materials investigation that identified lead services.

- Multiple sewer cleaning, televising and lining projects are in construction. The engineers reported progress percentages (for example, a sewer lining project listed as 62% completed and another TV/cleaning contract at 37% completion) and said the projects are funded by state and ARPA grants. A Lincoln Pump Station improvement project (pump rehabilitation and generator work) is in initial construction.

- The city has begun a multi-phase water-main replacement program; phase 1 is complete and phase 2 began in February. The engineer said the combined projects are expected to reduce annual water-main breaks substantially and replace hundreds of lead services over multiple years.

City staff and the consultant also discussed the residential cross-connection/backflow prevention program (EGLE mandate) and noted the work is weather-dependent because many residential installations occur on exterior hose bibs; that item was on the agenda for a contract extension but council members asked for further cost history before approving an extension.

Public Works and DPS staff also reported on a PermaPatch pothole product trial. The city purchased one ton for a field trial after a demonstration; DPS reported the product looks and performs similarly to conventional cold patch but has longer durability, and the city will continue using cold patch while assessing cost-effectiveness. Department staff said MDOT has had positive experience with the product.

Ending: Engineers and staff told the council they will return with environmental clearance and final bid schedules for CDBG- and SRF-funded projects, and staff said they will provide additional cost/payable history for the HydroCorp cross-connection item when it returns to an agenda.