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Council approves $1.74 million lead service‑line program for FY2027, citing state deadlines
Summary
The council authorized FY2027 contracts and verification work for the lead service‑line replacement program — a $1,737,000 authorization (including $400,000 federal reimbursement) to fund planned replacements, emergency repairs and verification work as the city moves toward a 2037 compliance deadline.
The Ferndale City Council approved a $1.737 million authorization on the lead service‑line replacement program for fiscal year 2027, including planned replacements, emergency response work and unit‑cost verification activity intended to reduce unknowns and meet evolving state requirements.
DPW staff summarized program history and need: the city has completed 2,302 replacements, identified 1,223 copper services and still has roughly 4,481 services unverified. Based on that work, staff estimate about 3,600 remaining lead service connections citywide. The FY2027 request funds 150 planned replacements, budgeted at approximately $1,125,000; emergency replacements (budgeted at $112,000) and verification work (up to $500,000) that helps reduce unknowns and support future planning. The total authorization of $1,737,000 reflects those elements and includes a $400,000 federal reimbursement that lowers the net city cost to about $1.3 million.
Staff emphasized the regulatory backdrop: the state minimum verification target is increasing (currently about 5% of verified services but moving toward higher annual percentages as the 2037 compliance deadline approaches). "We started with about 5,700 lead services," the DPW director said, adding that program projections put the base replacement cost at roughly $26.5 million for the remaining work and that annual requirements could rise to about 10% of the replacement pool in coming years.
The recommended contracting approach is to opt into cooperative contracts and split the 150 planned replacements across two contractors (DeAngelo Brothers for 120 replacements and Sunday Building for approximately 30). Contract payments are unit‑based and will vary based on field conditions; the council authorized annual contracts rather than multi‑year guarantees.
Council members asked about grant opportunities and measurement; staff said the city applies annually for State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding and that a separate water‑rate study will examine finance options for multi‑year capital needs. The motion passed on a roll call vote with supporting councilmembers recorded as Nikolski, Sabatini, Kelly, LaSalle and Leakes‑May.
