Monroe approves $1.022M lead-service-line replacement contract funded by federal grant

The Monroe Common Council voted to award a lead service-line replacement contract to E & N Hughes Company for $1,022,000, a project funded primarily by a $1,000,000 congressional grant with an approximately $200,000 city match.

City staff explained that the grant allows replacement of both public- and private-side service lines on streets included in the grant application, but not the entire city. “The city did receive a grant from Tammy Baldwin's office for $1,000,000 dollars to replace lead service lines in the city of Monroe,” Britney (city staff) said, adding the city had to provide about $200,000 as matching funds and that some lines remain to be inventoried.

Staff described inventory challenges: some service materials are unknown without excavation, and the bid process excluded a hydro-excavator that would speed exploratory digs because that equipment bid came in too high. Purchasing a hydro-excavator was estimated at about $75,000; staff said buying the equipment could be more cost-effective than contracting exploratory digs at roughly $842 per service. Council members asked for periodic updates; staff said inventories must be updated annually for DNR reporting and offered to provide interim reports.

The council approved the contract by roll-call vote. Staff noted the EPA has set a national deadline that all service lines be replaced by 2037; the city said the grant will fund roughly 100 services and that further work would depend on additional funding or local budgeting.