Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lead Service Replacement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Forest Park reviews lead-service replacement plan and funding options as infrastructure list is updated
Summary
Village administrators and commissioners discussed a draft 2022 infrastructure plan and a lead-service replacement initiative tied to a potential $4 million forgivable loan and other funding options; council did not take final action on funding or homeowner cost-sharing tonight.
Village Administrator Moses Amadei told the Forest Park Board on Feb. 14 that the village is preparing for required lead-service-line replacements and has an engineering proposal and a potential forgivable loan to support planning.
“By initiating this now, it's potentially we will have these monies available in 2023 at the earliest,” Amadei said, describing a roughly $4,000,000 forgivable loan that could help start replacements. He said the village estimates about $20,000,000 worth of lead service lines need replacement across town and that the law requires entire runs to be replaced when water mains are touched.
The discussion centered on how replacement costs would be allocated. Amadei said that if grant or loan funds are used, homeowners would not have to pay, but if local water-fund dollars are used the village may require property owners to cover the portion of the line that runs from the curb box to the house. He described private replacement costs that can range from about $3,500 to as much as $8,000–$9,000 per service depending on conditions.
Commissioners asked for clarification about near-term projects and grant cycles. Amadei noted Ferdinand Avenue is scheduled this year and that Jackson Street — which will be repaved with grant money — includes multiple lead services that may require policy direction soon because the paving schedule is time-sensitive.
The administrator also reviewed updates to the draft 2022 infrastructure plan, noting two alleys were added after lower-than-expected bids freed VIP fund money and that green-alley treatments add roughly $100,000 per alley. He said adopting a green infrastructure policy would improve scoring for some federal and regional grant programs but would not obligate the village to implement green projects in every case.
No formal vote was taken on funding policy for lead replacements or on use of ARPA or other local funds; Amadei said these choices will require council policy decisions at a later date.
