North Aurora staff outline lead service-line replacement program; village may pay private-side costs up to estimate of $385,000–$577,000
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Summary
Staff described a draft program to replace lead and galvanized water service lines, reported inventory results (6,584 services, ~298 possible lead lines, 10 unknowns) and presented cost estimates and three reimbursement categories; trustees asked about restoration, incentives, disclosure and legal tools to address holdouts.
Village staff on Monday walked trustees through a draft policy to replace lead and galvanized water service lines, reporting detailed inventory work, replacement categories, cost estimates and potential legal and incentive measures to limit homeowner holdouts.
"Out of our 6,584 service lines, we're down to 10 lines that are unknown at this time," Steve said, summarizing the village's inventory work. He said the village identified about 298 service lines that may be lead and that the village owns the majority of affected public-side lines; earlier in the discussion staff clarified that 36 homes are private-side-only while 77 total homes have lead on the private side in the village.
Brandon described three categories in the draft replacement program. For village-initiated projects (for example, water-main work), the village would cover 100% of the public-side replacement cost: "the village would cover a 100% of the cost for replacing that line," he said. If a property owner initiates the private-side replacement, the village would reimburse eligible costs up to $7,500, subject to available funding and normal permit fees and inspections. When a building permit triggers replacement, the village would reimburse the public-side portion only.
Staff presented estimated counts and costs: 221 public-side-only replacements, 36 private-side-only homes (with 41 full-line replacements in the combined category), and a village-wide estimated cost range of roughly $1.5 million to $2.4 million. Staff said the private-side replacement portion — the portion the village would consider covering under its policy decision — is presently estimated at about $385,000 to $577,000.
Trustees asked practical questions about restoration and construction impacts such as sidewalks and landscaping. Brandon said directional boring would be the preferred, least-intrusive method but some homes could require excavation near foundations or other atypical work and that interior/exterior restoration beyond a concrete patch or topsoil-and-seed on the exterior would generally be excluded from village-funded repairs.
Board members also discussed incentives, loans and holdouts. Staff said the Illinois EPA (IEPA) requires the village to replace 26 lead services within about 18 months and noted a potential low-interest loan program through the Illinois Finance Authority (IPA) or similar programs. Trustees asked whether the village could record a notice against a property's title or otherwise provide public notice to buyers; Kevin said a recorded notice is possible and that disclosure obligations may be addressed under the Real Property Disclosure Act depending on the circumstances.
Staff said they would return to the board with final policy language and a resolution for approval at the next meeting and continue to refine funding and enforcement options.
No formal policy resolution was adopted Monday; staff will bring a resolution and the replacement agreement to a future board meeting for possible approval.
