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Brainerd approves Bolton & Mink contract to design lead/galvanized service line replacements tied to alley reconstruction
Summary
The commission approved a professional services agreement with Bolton & Mink to prepare plans and construction administration for replacing 13 known galvanized/lead service lines in coordination with the city's alley reconstruction. Funding comes from Minnesota Department of Health programs administered through the PFA (about $2.6 million available to the utility). Staff said homeowner participation is voluntary and the program is offered at no cost to owners under current funding; the contract design/administration fee is estimated at about $36,000.
The Brainerd Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 24 approved hiring Bolton & Mink for engineering and construction administration on a lead service line replacement project tied to a City of Brainerd alley reconstruction.
Staff said the utility completed a citywide inventory that identified galvanized and lead service lines and that federal and state funding (administered through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Public Facilities Authority) provides roughly $2.6 million to support annual replacements. The commission was asked to approve Bolton & Mink to prepare the no‑plan submittal to PFA by the March 31 deadline and to provide design and construction administration services for the 13 identified service lines in the Ronald Joseph Alley project area.
Staff explained that property owners already contacted for prior projects have received packets and many are signing agreements to allow access; if a homeowner declines, staff will record that decision and the property will remain on statewide inventories as needing replacement, at which point future replacement costs could fall to the owner. The utility emphasized the replacement scope is full replacement from the supply to the house, with some interior work limited to patching and exterior surfaces to be restored (concrete or grass) and a per‑property funding cap of $25,000.
Bolton & Mink's contract for the design and administration work was described as approximately $36,000. Staff said contractors (J and J Excavating and others) have indicated potential availability and that coordination with the alley project's water main contractor is necessary to avoid re‑digging and minimize schedule impacts. The commission moved, seconded and approved the professional services agreement to meet the PFA submittal timetable.
