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Village engineer: state declines road grant, TMF water-main phase replaces lead lines
Summary
Spicer Engineering told the Village of Saint Charles council the village did not receive a state 'Category B' road matching grant; crews are finishing Phase 1 of the TMF water-main project using contingencies to replace four lead service lines and the village will seek federal financing for remaining galvanized lines.
Austin from Spicer Engineering reported to the Village of Saint Charles council that the village was not selected for the State Category B road matching grant, saying the awarding agency released only a list of recipients and offered no specific reason for Saint Charles’ omission. "The village did not receive a category b grant for road funding," Austin said.
Spicer detailed progress on water-system work tied to the TMF project. Phase 1 has used remaining contingency funds to replace four lead service lines discovered during construction; Austin said that work is ongoing and he expects it to "wrap up in the next few weeks," with the village potentially able to say it is lead-free for water services by the next council meeting.
On Phase 2 financing, Austin said applications are pending with federal funding administrators and the USDA program; work on those financials has stalled amid the recent federal shutdown and review schedules. He said the village will submit a detailed June 1 project plan that must include demographics, water-rate impacts and a description of how the project will make the system more compliant with state environmental regulators.
Spicer also reported on the Safe Routes to School sidewalk project: corridor modeling and sidewalk profiling are complete, an archaeological survey is underway, and permits for wetland and floodplain impacts with EGLE are being finalized. The firm has begun preparing right-of-way waivers so the village can retain future control of sidewalk land once installed.
Council members asked if Spicer had received reasons for the road-grant denial; Austin said the agency provided only the award list and no individualized explanation. Multiple council members noted that no municipality in the county received that grant round.
What’s next: Spicer will continue work to finish Phase 1 lead-service replacements, prepare the federal/USDA financing submission for Phase 2, and provide the council with the code-of-ordinances package staff signaled will be available for review.
