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Lexington council tables cross-connection control program amid cost and oversight questions
Summary
After prolonged questioning about who would pay and how inspections and appeals would work, Lexington town council voted unanimously to table consideration of a proposed cross-connection control program until August so staff can clarify costs, certification and ordinance language before the required September inspection.
The Lexington Town Council on Monday tabled consideration of a proposed cross-connection control program after members raised concerns about potential costs to residents, certification and the procedure for appeals.
Councilman Ron Williams introduced the program as a public-health measure, saying, “The cross connection control program helps protect the public’s drinking water system by preventing contaminants from entering the water supply through backflows.” He moved for a first reading, but discussion among council members and staff exposed several unresolved operational questions.
Why it matters: Town staff said the program is necessary to meet federal and state drinking-water regulations and state plumbing-code requirements and that the town needs a program in place before an upcoming inspection in September. Council members pressed staff for estimates of how many residents would be affected and how much retrofitting might cost homeowners.
Cost and vendors: Council members were told staff had not estimated the total number of affected properties but that vendor quotes produced an average cost of roughly $600 per device. Staff recommended issuing a request for proposals so the town could secure a vendor able to perform bulk work and offer payment plans to residents who cannot afford a one-time cost. Councilmember Will Allen said the RFP approach could allow residents to “pay in installments because that is a lot for a resident individually to take on.”
Certification and appeals: Council further questioned whether installers must be certified and how the town would verify repairs. Staff said certified backflow testers must submit test reports to the town and that the town’s securement of records would confirm compliance. On appeals, staff said any administrative challenge would follow the town’s standard accounting and appeals process and would be handled case-by-case.
Timeline and next steps: Town staff said the program must be approved by the governing body and that the town’s inspection is scheduled for September; staff indicated they could provide revised program language in time for an August meeting and aim for a first reading in September and ordinance changes in October. After discussion and a rescission of an earlier motion, the council voted unanimously to table the program to an August work session and directed staff to return with clarified language and supporting materials.
What was decided: The council’s vote to table was unanimous. Council members asked staff to add clarifying language about options for homeowners, to highlight certification and testing procedures in the program documents, and to circulate proposed edits to council members in advance of the August meeting.
The meeting record shows no final adoption or ordinance vote; staff will present an updated program and ordinance language for further council consideration in August and September.
