Waconia on the hunt to track down remaining lead pipes

Get the lead out is the goal of a federal initiative targeting the removal of all lead pipe from community water systems. In support of that effort cities are required to conduct inventories of all water service lines to identify the materials within them, such as lead, galvanized, copper and plastic.

Utility Supervisor Doug Bode provided an update on Waconia’s efforts to the city council at their May 6 meeting. Sorting through building documents, system maps and equipment markings, Public Services has narrowed the inventory search from a few thousand city properties to around 590 where it is unclear whether those properties are served by lead lines. To complete the inventory, the city will be conducting surveys of property owners for help.

Lead pipe use was banned in 1985, so the lead service search is primarily focused on older sections of town. Federal and state resources have been allocated for the get the lead out effort, and there could be replacement plans and grant funding coming. That is why the inventory and survey data are important to compile, according to city officials, because the number of units positively identified will likely affect the amount of federal and state dollars that could be appropriated to Waconia to help remediate lead service lines in the community.

The objective of the federal initiative is to accelerate the removal of lead pipes where it is needed most. Waconia city officials note that utility staff regularly test lead-line service drinking water for lead concentrations, so there shouldn’t be any health issues. A line disruption would be the only situation that might bump lead levels.

In terms of the survey, an information sheet with QR code link to the survey is going out to affected residents. The city also has lead service line information on its website at: https://www.waconia.org/528/Lead-Service-Line-Replacement-LSLRP

At its latest meeting, the council also approved the issuance and sale of just over $6 million in general obligation bonds to pay for 2024 infrastructure improvement projects. Council members had authorized the bond sale at an earlier meeting.

Standard and Poor’s confirmed Waconia AA+ bond rating on April 30, and the city received a favorable interest rate of 3.095 percent from among 11 financial agency bidders. TD Securities LLC of New York was the low bidder. The bonds are slated to be paid back over 10 years.

The council also approved the hiring of Nevin Waldron for a new Technology Services technician position, selected from 11 candidates. The council had authorized recruiting for the position earlier in the year. Waldron is the son of Mayor Nicole Waldron.

In other business, the council denied a parking waiver at 650 Copper Court that would have allowed the property owner to park a large commercial vehicle on the city street. The homeowners’ association also has rules prohibiting commercial vehicles in the driveway. Council members rejected the request indicating an ordinance change could be precedent-setting especially for the length of time requested.

Police report

In his monthly police report, Sgt. Tyler Stahn reported that crime rates in the city through April continue to remain low and on par with a year ago – 28 total criminal incidents for the month compared to 27 a year ago.

April was also the statewide distracted driving enforcement campaign, Stahn noted. Across the county, 42 citations were issued for hands-free violations – 16 of those violations issued in Waconia.

Starting this month through Sept. 2, the “100 deadliest days of summer,” Stahn said is a statewide speed enforcement campaign, which means locally there will be a significant number of extra patrols on Carver County roadways to enforce speeding violations.