Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard led off the city council meeting tonight about funding for lead pipe replacement projects in the city.
The city is working to replace lead line pipes from the city’s water turn off to individual homes. That was once the responsibility of the home owners. But, the EPA has mandated the cities to pick up the costs.
And, it’s expensive. The city is doing phase one of the 10 phase project on the city’s north east side now.
Mayor Ezard says the funding will turn into what amounts to be a grant.
He says phase two monies will total about $6-point-1 million.
Phases 1 through 5 are on the city’s east side. 6 through 10 are west of Main Street.
Ezard says the money from the program makes it possible for the city to do any of the work.
He says without it, the money needed would skyrocket water and sewer rates in Jacksonville.
The announcement came as Jamie Headen of Benton and Associates gave the firm’s annual update on the water and sewer work…all the way from the cleaning of the city’s Ranney Wells along the river, to lead pipe replacement in the city, to the wastewater treatment work.
The council, through leg work by alderwoman Lori Large Oldenettal, learned GFL Environmental erred in overcharging for trash hauling, and city customers will get a credit in the final quarter of this year to make up the difference. The amendment also clears up language for the annual spring clean up in the city.
Alderwoman Oldenettal also received consensus from the rest of the city council to have Jacksonville seek state grants for the replacement of playground equipment at Nichols Park and update the restrooms. The grant application is due by the end of August, and could be as much as $600-thousand.
The city applied for open space lands acquisition and development grant money a year ago for pickleball courts, but was turned down.
The council approved a 5 year contract with the Laborer’s Union that represents city hall workers, parks and lakes employees and other city workers.
The council learned through the Benton update that bids for work at the Veterans Park water tower will be let this fall, and the city is considering an east side site for a new water tower that would improve water pressure for residents there. That site will probably be near the former AC Humko plant. The city is seeking a 90 percent grant for that project.
Officer Phillip Warren was pinned as a Jacksonville police sergeant at the start of the meeting.