The Public Utilities Committee got a progress report on major street/utility work and flagged two compliance issues that could drive future costs: a new sewer-operator certification requirement and PFAS (“forever chemicals”) showing up in wastewater tied in part to landfill discharges.
Key Decisions
PFAS sampling required by the city’s wastewater permit confirmed PFOS/PFOA in the system, and staff said a significant share appears to be coming from landfill discharges—no immediate landfill action yet, but future requirements are expected and still unclear.
Staff said the city must have a certified sewer collection operator actively doing sewer cleaning/maintenance to comply with the WPDES permit, and they’re proposing adding/designating this as a new position in the 2026 budget.
Fluoride in drinking water was raised as a possible future Council work-session topic, with staff outlining costs and arguments being discussed elsewhere; one attendee voiced concerns about negative impacts.
Public Input
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
Agenda Items
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Staff reported utility work is done on the Harbor/16th/Emmet reconstruction and the project is moving into grading and paving prep. Lead service lateral replacements are active on Jackson Street and shifting toward Garfield, with city street crews patching pavement as weather allows. Sewer lining is planned for late fall/winter at about 10,000 feet—worth watching because timing and winter work can affect disruption and costs.
Staff said the city’s WPDES permit (as of August 2024) requires a certified collection system operator who is actually doing sewer cleaning/maintenance work—not just someone on staff who happens to hold the certification. Because the currently certified employees aren’t performing those duties, the DNR told the city it needs at least one certified person in the DPW Street Division who is directly involved. The committee was told this would be handled by designating a Street Division staff member to get certified, described as a new proposed position in the 2026 budget—meaning residents should expect this to show up as a staffing/cost item during budget season.
ELECTRIC AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITIES: DIRECTOR UPDATES AND ACTION, IF APPLICABLE
The utilities director reported routine project updates: service work for two new houses, and an overhead-to-underground electric conversion at 4000 Mishicot Road while telecom poles will remain. Meter-change volume was high (150 in a month) and meter backorders have improved sharply, which should help with service work and replacements. The bucket truck delivery is now expected January 2026 after a delay from March 2025—another reminder that equipment lead times can throw off schedules.
WATER UTILITY: DIRECTOR UPDATE, DISCUSSION AND ACTION, AS NEEDED
Staff reviewed upcoming lead/copper rule changes, including an implementation timeline running to October 2027 and a possible tightening of the lead action level from 15 ppb to 10 ppb, plus changes to sampling. The meeting also included a “Council brief” on fluoride: staff noted there’s no federal mandate, cited other communities that have removed it, and laid out claimed cost and safety-equipment impacts (roughly $12,000–$15,000 per year). Michelle Dax voiced concerns about negative impacts, and staff indicated this could come back as a future Council work-session topic—so residents who care either way should watch for that agenda item.
SOLID WASTE UTILITY: UPDATES AND ACTION, AS NEEDED
Staff said the wastewater permit requires PFOS/PFOA sampling of influent and effluent, and results confirmed these chemicals are present in the city’s wastewater stream. The WDNR has given a verbal notice requiring a PFOS/PFOA minimization plan to identify likely sources, and staff’s first suspected source is landfill discharges—staff said a significant portion appears to originate from the landfill. No immediate landfill action is required right now, but staff expects future requirements and said it’s unclear what they will be, which is exactly the kind of uncertainty that can turn into expensive mandates later.