Hinsdale board advances design contract for lead service line replacements; working group to study resident costs
Loading...
Summary
Trustees reviewed a $168,000 design engineering contract for lead service line replacement and formed a water systems revenue strategy working group to evaluate funding options ahead of necessary replacements required under state law by 2036.
The Hinsdale Board of Trustees on Jan. 6 advanced plans for replacing lead water service lines, discussing a proposed design engineering contract with Christopher Burke Engineering and creating a working group to recommend how the village will fund the work.
Trustee Burns introduced item 6A, describing it as "a big project that's gonna go on for 10 years," and said the village proposes to contract for engineering services in an amount not to exceed $168,000 to support field reconnaissance, design and bid-ready documents, project management and coordination with IEPA loan programs.
Village leadership said the work responds to the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act and state timelines that require communities to replace all lead service lines by 2036. The village estimates about 300 lead service lines will need replacement, though staff said the inventory currently includes roughly 180 known lead services plus a set of unknowns that the state treats as lead; the total inventory was discussed as roughly 440 during inspections and is expected to settle nearer to the 300 range as field work continues.
George Paluso, staff engineering presenter, described how service enters a home — water main in the street, a service line through the parkway or into basements and a b‑box shutoff — and explained crews will typically use directional‑boring (trenchless) methods and coordinate replacements with the village's resurfacing schedule to avoid repeated pavement openings.
Board members pressed staff on resident notification and potential out‑of‑pocket costs. Staff said the village has mailed annual notices and maintains a lead inventory on its website; specific timing and the resident share of replacement costs were not finalized. To address funding, the Village President said he has formed a Water Systems Revenue Strategy working group including Trustee Pashtama, Trustee Burns, Finance Commission Chair Waldo and Finance Commission member Elder to evaluate revenue scenarios aligned with the village's May water‑rate adjustment cycle and return recommendations to the board.
Trustees discussed financing options the staff raised, including IEPA loan programs offering long‑term, low‑interest financing, but noted those funds are competitive statewide. Officials also discussed contractor qualifications: licensed plumbers will make in‑home connections, while smaller or specialized underground contractors could execute trenchless work.
Next steps: staff will continue inspections to refine the inventory, the working group will study resident cost‑sharing options and revenue scenarios, and the board will return to consider contract awards and budget implications as recommendations are developed.
