sanitary laterals

Staff said Contract 2-2026 (Lead Service Lateral Replacement) was out to bid, with bids scheduled to open Feb. 10.

Staff said the Wisconsin DNR was exploring whether the city could offer homeowners long-term financing for private-side sanitary lateral work instead of requiring full payment within 90 days.

Staff said a long-term financing option could mean the city carries the debt for up to 20 years.

Staff said the city would need to prove reductions in sewer inflow/infiltration, and that there was not a clear measurement method for those reductions.

Council approved issuing up to $1,835,579 in sewer rate-backed loans (Wisconsin Clean Water Fund) at a stated 2.475% interest rate.

The vote on the sewer rate-backed loan was 8-0 and it passed.

The meeting-item summary listed the funded work as sanitary sewer replacements (Harbor, 16th, and Emmet), lead service sanitary laterals, and pipe-lining in various locations, with repayment from sewer system revenues.

Council passed awarding Contract 2-2026 (Lateral Replacement Program) to Mammoth Construction LLC for $2,437,152.60.

The contract was described as 2026 lead water service and sanitary lateral replacement work on the near north side, generally 23rd Street north to 31st Street and east of Forest Avenue to the East Twin River, with exceptions for areas proposed for future reconstruction.

The described scope included 230 public-side water services, 160 private-side water services, and 100 public-side sanitary laterals.

Pavement restoration was described as planned to be completed by the City’s Public Works Street Section and reimbursed as part of Wisconsin DNR funding.

Council reviewed how the city handles sewer-bill credits when residents have unexpected leaks, including balancing customer fairness against protecting the utility’s finances.

Council generally supported keeping the current sewer credit policy while noting residents may face large bills before realizing usage has spiked.

Council asked staff to explore high-usage alerts, clearer bill messaging about the policy, and safeguards for auto-pay customers to reduce large automatic withdrawals after a surprise leak.

Council voted 9-0 to award Contract 3-2026 for pipe-lining of sanitary sewer mains to Visu-Sewer LLC for an amount not to exceed $759,000.

Council unanimously approved an intent-to-reimburse resolution so the city can pay early project costs and later reimburse itself using state Clean Water/Safe Drinking Water financing for 2027 work; staff said this was required before June 30.

The vote on the intent-to-reimburse resolution was 8-0 and it passed.

Agenda materials described planned 2027 work including about 500 individual service connections and about 11,600 feet of sanitary sewer mains described as 90–100 years old.

Agenda materials described anticipated borrowing not to exceed $11.5 million for the planned 2027 sewer rehab and water-sewer lateral replacement projects.