Blue Island to use IEPA forgivable loan for lead service-line replacements; Millennium Contracting reported as low bidder

Blue Island will move forward with a lead service-line replacement program after being awarded a forgivable loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, city staff reported during the May 12 committee meeting.

Staff said the IEPA award covers approximately $1.4 million for phase one of the city's lead service-line inventory and replacement work. The administration reported that the low, responsible bidder identified in the bid opening packet was Millennium Contracting Company, with a bid amount reported in the meeting packet.

Officials said the immediate priority is replacing a water main and associated lead service lines on Division Street, where the system has experienced multiple breaks and low pressure. Staff explained that when a public water main is replaced or disturbed, connected lead service lines typically must be replaced as well, and that the project will help address localized pressure issues and reduce public-health risk.

Council members asked questions about how priority locations were selected; staff said priorities were driven by water-main break history and modeling of pressure and service reliability. The project will proceed under the terms of the IEPA award and the low-bid contract, with departments coordinating excavation, paving and restoration work.

Next steps: staff will finalize contracting paperwork and schedule construction for Division Street and other high-priority locations identified in the water-department assessment.