Two Rivers utilities staff reported progress on water, sewer and street repairs, while state requirements continue to shape upcoming stormwater and solid-waste rule changes. No public input or committee action beyond routine minutes approval was recorded.
Key Decisions
The city expects to bring solid-waste ordinance changes to the City Council in late September or October after WDNR reviewed the proposed revisions. The changes are required to keep local rules aligned with state standards.
A new leak-detection tool found a Wilson Street water leak estimated to have cost about $28,000 in lost water revenue. Finding leaks sooner can limit losses that ultimately put pressure on utility finances and rates.
Riverside Foods' planned use of a HEPA vacuum before washdown is intended to reduce heavy wastewater entering the sewer system. The city reported one BOD limit exceedance so far in 2026, down from seven in 2025.
Public Input
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
Agenda Items
PROJECT STATUS UPDATES
Pavement repairs tied to the 2025 lead service line replacement project are expected to continue on the near northeast side through November. The city is also moving pavement-repair work to the 23rd Street area and is considering whether Mammoth Construction can help with recent pavement openings. Lincoln Avenue water-main replacement is expected to begin in October and finish by the end of November, meaning residents should expect another concentrated stretch of utility construction and street disruption.
Annual cleaning of the wastewater plant's clarifiers and basins is complete, as is maintenance at 16 of the city's 17 lift stations. Riverside Foods has bought a HEPA vacuum but had not yet put it into its cleaning process; the city expects it to be operating by the end of September to reduce high-strength wastewater sent to the sewer system. The city reported seven BOD loading exceedances in 2025 and one through this meeting in 2026, a March exceedance that was about 39 pounds per day above the allowed limit. Staff also awaited sludge-profile results needed before choosing land application or landfill disposal, and expected a replacement Columbus lift-station cover by the end of September.
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ELECTRIC AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITIES: DIRECTOR UPDATES AND ACTION, IF APPLICABLE
The electric utility is considering a one-day thermal-drone inspection of poles along the old rail corridors near Memorial Drive, estimated at roughly $1,500. Staff said the method meets PSC pole-inspection requirements without requiring employees to physically inspect every pole. The committee did not take action, but the proposal reflects how regulatory requirements are pushing utility work toward new tools and added costs.
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WATER UTILITY: DIRECTOR UPDATE, DISCUSSION AND ACTION, AS NEEDED
Painting of the East Tower was one week complete, with about three more weeks expected if weather cooperates. Staff also reported that new leak-detection equipment located a Wilson Street leak estimated to have caused about $28,000 in lost water revenue. About 60 fire hydrants may be repainted within the next month.
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STORM WATER UTILITY: UPDATES AND ACTION, AS NEEDED
WDNR approved the city's updated citywide stormwater management plan. Staff said the city may need to revise its stormwater ordinances later to stay consistent with state requirements. No specific ordinance language or timeline was presented, leaving residents without a clear view yet of what local rule changes could follow.
SOLID WASTE UTILITY: UPDATES AND ACTION, AS NEEDED
WDNR required the city to review its solid-waste rules against state standards. After the city submitted proposed revisions, WDNR returned several comments for consideration; staff expects the revised ordinance to reach the City Council in late September or October. This is another example of state compliance requirements driving local utility policy before residents have seen the final proposed changes.
