Freeburg board authorizes water‑loan ordinance and approves sewer‑lining payment

The Freeburg Board of Trustees on Nov. 17 adopted Ordinance No. 1809 authorizing the village to borrow funds through the Public Water Supply Loan Program and approved a pay request related to a sewer‑lining contract.

Trustee Dana Miller moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1809 and Trustee Robert (Bob) Kaiser seconded; roll call recorded six ayes and the ordinance carried. Village Engineer Tim Pruett told the board the IEPA loan application manager suggested enacting a debt‑authorizing ordinance to advance water system upgrade financing and that staff would prepare the paperwork for legal/ordinance review and board approval.

On the sewer project, Trustee Robert (Bob) Kaiser moved to approve a Visu‑Sewer of Missouri, LLC pay request for work performed on the sewer lining project; Trustee Tom Carpenter seconded and the board voted unanimously to approve the payment. Agenda materials show an original contract bid of $319,130.50 and the minutes include two slightly different pay‑request figures ($300,154.44 and $300,158.44) in separate places; the board’s materials note a 5% holdback pending review of the video inspection of the new lining.

Public Works Director John Tolan reported operational work including hydrant flushing, replacement of galvanized service lines where leaks were found, and the requirement to provide six months of filters to residents if lead goosenecks are discovered at services. He also said crews were collecting the second round of lead and copper samples, which must include a percentage of schools and daycares; some school samples taken in 2018 remain valid and need not be recollected.

The board’s action establishes local authorization to pursue loan financing and advances payment for sewer repairs while retaining contract holdbacks until final inspection of the lining work is complete.