Normal Town Council: Million Dollar Lead Pipe Removal, Additional Infrastructure Upgrades

NORMAL, Ill.- The town of Normal held their second council meeting of the month on Feb. 19.

A recent change in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agencies regulations will push Normal to replace all the remaining lead service water pipes within the town.

Director of the Water Department John Burkhart presented to the council Monday night, saying how this only applies to the service lines that feed into properties, as the city would not be required to change any lead pipes that may currently exist within residences.

While a study would be needed to see the extent of the remaining lead service lines, Burkhart stated how all of the remaining lines are hooked up to under 70 residences, though his team would need to complete a survey to determine whether all of those residences are serviced by lead lines.

Burkhart explained to the council it would cost around $450,000 to remove the existing lead piping, with the project in total costing near a million dollars to replace the pipes, though a survey on how many pipes need replacing would be required to get a concrete price point. City Manager Pamela Reece said the town of Normal would work individually with landowners in Normal to schedule a time for contractors to address the project.

In other business, the council:

-Appointed four positions in total for various vacancies across two boards in town. Joshua Moyer has been appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Jack Fahler, Marsha Fogarty and Stephen Monaco have all been appointed to the Uptown Design Review Commission.

-Approved numerous invoices for equipment, including $99,416 for computer equipment from Dell and $43,903 for furniture from Widmer Interiors.

-Authorized the payment for a sanitary sewer installation project totaling $40,600. The project, set to be installed at 111 Merle Lane, will be completed by Stark Excavating, Inc.

-In a section of the meeting after the agenda was completed, Council Member Kathleen Lorenz brought up how she has received complaints of motorists speeding on electric bikes and scooters on the trails of Normal. Mayor Chris Koos also agreed that he has also heard complaints on the manner, and said the council will assign an appropriate team to address the matter.

The towns next council meeting will be held at 7 p.m on March 4.