Wanamingo Council approves plans and calls for bids on lead service line replacement project

The Wanamingo City Council voted 3-0 on July 13 to approve plans and to call for bids on a lead service line replacement project, setting a bid date of Aug. 2 and establishing a project timeline that requires contractor work and state records to be completed by the end of 2027.

Brandon Theobald of WHKS told the Council that bidding will take place on Aug. 2 and that the contractor will need to complete service-line replacements and restoration by fall 2027 to meet the state project closeout deadline. He said there are "9–10 galvanized (treated same as lead) water service lines on the list to replace," and that some work may require directional drilling or pulling a new line through while removing the old one.

Theobald said staff will draft agreements with affected property owners that clarify responsibilities: the agreement will include installation of a new water service line and the exterior restoration the city will require, but it will not include basement restoration because that work is not covered by the grant. He said there will be a one-year warranty period following completion; after that, homeowners will be responsible for any issues. Homeowners will not be required to participate, but those who opt out will be asked to sign an acknowledgment accepting responsibility for future replacement.

Councilor Stuart Ohr moved to approve the plans and call for bids; Councilor Rebecca Haugen seconded the motion and it passed 3-0-0. Theobald told the Council there are still "unknown quantities and exact locations for replacement" and that staff will continue to refine the plans as bids and field investigations proceed.

Next steps: staff will advertise the project and accept bids beginning Aug. 2; the Council and project engineers will return with bid results and a recommended contractor before work begins.