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Huron council OKs first reading to hire contingency law firm to test and pursue PFAS claims
Summary
Council approved placing a resolution on first reading to authorize a contingency-fee contract for PFAS testing and litigation; staff said the engagement carries no city cost unless testing and recovery occur.
HURON — The Huron City Council voted to place Resolution 81‑2025 on first reading, authorizing the city manager to execute a contingency legal services contract with Grossman & Kelly LLP to pursue civil claims related to PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly called “forever chemicals.”
Council member Schrader introduced the resolution and said the engagement follows a federal case and a national settlement pot he cited as $13,000,000,000. Schrader said municipalities must retain counsel and submit claims to participate in the settlement process and that the city negotiated an engagement letter that imposes no upfront financial risk to the city: the firm will test the public water system and proceed only if PFAS are detected.
Jack Evans, water‑department staff, described PFAS as chemicals often found near military sites and in firefighting foam and said Huron participated in UCMR5 (the Environmental Protection Agency’s unregulated contaminant monitoring rule) testing in 2023. Evans stated, “At that time, they were non detect in our source water,” and explained the distinction between trigger levels (which prompt additional sampling) and action levels (which require treatment). He told council that if testing finds PFAS, “there will be financial compensation for that.”
Council characterized the proposed engagement as low risk to the city because the law firm agreed to bear litigation costs unless there is a recovery. The resolution was approved for first reading; further steps will depend on testing outcomes and any claims process required by the national settlement or related litigation.
