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County reviews lead lateral replacement plan and approves $11,000 transfer to finish a village replacement
Summary
Washington County staff updated the committee on a multi-year lead lateral replacement program (196 completed, roughly 980 to go) and the committee approved moving $11,000 of grant funds between municipalities to finish a recently discovered private-side lateral.
Washington County public-works staff updated the committee on the county's lead lateral replacement program and the committee approved a small inter-municipal transfer to finish a single remaining lateral.
Scott reported that 196 public and private side lead laterals have been replaced to date and said roughly 980 remain, concentrated in the cities of West Bend and Hartford. He outlined funding tools including a mapping application the county maintains, a county grant program that offsets private-side costs for qualifying owners, and possible loan/principal-forgiveness options under federal infrastructure funding (the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law). "If they get the money and if it's the full 25% that they get forgiven, that is about $85,000 that they would, potentially be forgiven, out of the $340,000 price tag to do just the private side of those 68 lead laterals," Scott said, describing an example scenario for West Bend.
Committee members asked about program scope, whether money could be shifted among municipalities to finish outstanding work, and whether the board should prioritize remaining laterals given multi-million-dollar estimates for citywide completion. Scott gave planning-year estimates (he described a range of costs for 2027 and multi-year totals) and emphasized that the program's federal funding window may not extend beyond 2027.
The committee considered a staff motion to move $11,000 from one municipality's allocation to another to finish a discovered remaining lateral; the motion was made and seconded (second named in the record as Supervisor Mikulik) and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: Lead service lines present public-health risks; the county and municipalities are using grants, loans and county funds to replace laterals. The committee discussion focused on long-term funding choices and near-term adjustments to complete identified remaining work.
What happens next: Staff will record the transfer, update the mapping application and include clarifying data in the next packet on remaining laterals and funding scenarios.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 633; topfinish SEG 928
