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Milford amends appropriations, earmarks unexpected funds for State Route 28 sewer and water repairs
Summary
City manager told council the State Route 28 corridor needs immediate sewer replacement and likely water work; council advanced appropriation changes totaling $3.3 million and authorized several procurement steps to address piping failures, with staff proposing marijuana host-fee revenue and grant applications as funding sources.
Milford City Council on April 21 advanced an amendment to city appropriation ordinances to fund urgent infrastructure repairs, notably along State Route 28, where staff reported extensive sewer and water pipe deterioration.
City Manager (speaking at the meeting) told council the SR 28 corridor contains stretches with missing pipe — "a hole in the ground, from where the pipe used to be" — and recommended splitting work into two phases: replace roughly 2,300 feet of critically failing sewer pipe (Phase 1) and line about 1,300 feet of clay pipe (Phase 2). Based on recent local work, staff estimated approximately $1,000,000 to replace the failing sewer pipe and about $2,000,000 if sewer and water are done together on SR 28.
To fund the work, the manager said the city will apply expected marijuana host-fee revenue (approximately $1,000,000) toward capital outlay in the sewer revenue fund and will pursue competitive grants (OPWC, CDBG) and local matches where feasible. The manager noted the city did not receive OPWC funding last round and that lining the sewer alone might cost an additional $300,000 but would be eligible for grant offset if local matching funds are available.
Council moved to have the law director draft amendments to the appropriation ordinances (referenced in the meeting packet) to reflect the increased capital outlay amounts. The omnibus appropriation change was later read and adopted by council as Ordinance 26-454, which the law director said amends appropriation ordinances with total amendments of $3,304,265.
Council members emphasized the trade-offs between piecemeal repairs and doing both sewer and water at once to avoid repeated digging and higher long-term costs. The mayor said the unexpected revenue made a costly but necessary project more palatable: "we are fortunate to get unexpected, surplus... that we would have hoped that we could have used that for something a little more exciting than sewer," but "at least it it's less of a burden and less of a hit on our finances." Staff will proceed with procurement steps and report back on bids and grant outcomes.
Next steps include releasing bid documents for Phase 1 replacement, continuing to scope Phase 2 lining, and pursuing grant applications; staff flagged potential road closures during construction and said larger equipment deliveries are expected beginning in July.
