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Ashland advances $10 million water and sewer bond on first reading after emergency pipe failures
Summary
After emergency repairs to a 24-inch raw-water line, the Ashland Board advanced a $10 million water and sewer revenue bond ordinance on first reading and directed staff to scope intake-line repairs estimated at $500,000–$1 million.
The Ashland Board of City Commissioners on May 20 approved on first reading an ordinance to authorize up to $10 million in water and sewer revenue bonds to fund water-system projects, including follow-up work related to recent raw-water line failures.
Why it matters: The board’s action comes after an emergency response to a main raw-water line leak that forced round-the-clock repairs and prompted commissioners to re-evaluate whether bond proceeds should prioritize intake-line work rather than routine service-line replacements.
Staff overview and cost estimates Mr. Hall, the city staff lead on utilities, told the board the primary leak began May 14 and “our crew started working around the clock and it was eventually repaired at about 10:00 p.m. on the 15th.” He said crews later found and repaired a second, less-critical leak and that the city located 900 feet of 24-inch pipe and obtained emergency parts when needed.
On preliminary engineering, Hall said an external engineering reference — a 2024 Wisconsin relining project of comparable raw-water lines — suggested a budgetary range of roughly $500,000 to $1,000,000 to address the intake-line issues, though he cautioned that a design, camera inspection and permitting would be required before firm bids could be solicited. “That’s a ballpark figure,” Hall said.
Board deliberations and next steps Commissioners supported advancing the bond ordinance for a first reading while asking staff to refine numbers for the intake-line option before a second reading. The ordinance on first reading includes authority to prepare a preliminary and final official statement and to sell the bonds to the lowest and best bidder. Staff said bond proceeds would be paired with internal loan-settlement proceeds and other water-fund reserves to fund prioritized work.
The board also approved a separate agreement for a federal grant of up to $120,000 for the Mayo Plaza streetscape study; that grant requires a city match of up to $30,000.
What comes next: Staff will scope the intake-line options (lining versus open trench), evaluate permitting and camera-inspection needs, and provide refined cost estimates before the board’s second reading. The bond ordinance will return for additional consideration once the board has more precise engineering and cost information.
Sources: Statements and vote on first reading recorded at the May 20, 2026 recessed meeting of the Ashland Board of City Commissioners; staff presentation by Mr. Hall.
