NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The federal government is requiring all cities to find out how much lead is in the pipes in the city, both public and private.
The Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday approved a loan to get a consultant in to help with that work, as a listing of the pipes and what they are made of is due to the state of Kansas in October.
"We need to identify the water main material, the service line material on both that public side and the private side," said Director of Public Works Brian Clennan. "On the private side, we need to identify the material of that service line at the foundation of the house. We also need to identify the service line sizes. We need to identify whether that public service line, if it had been replaced, if it had ever been lead prior to its replacements. We need to look at trying to document, as best we can, the plumbing materials within each building and the date that plumbing was installed."
Clennan said the city of Hutchinson has approximately 15,950 service lines.
"Back on May 16, 2023, the city held a public hearing to discuss taking a $350,000 loan from the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund that's administered by KDHE," Clennan said. "This loan is intended to finance this work. Following the conclusion of that public hearing, the council authorized the mayor to sign a resolution authorizing the completion of that loan application. KDHE has approved our loan application, with the following terms. Loan amount is $350,000. There's an estimated prinicipal forgiveness of $171,500, which leaves a net loan that we'll need to repay of $178,500."
It is a 20 year fixed rate loan at 2.26%. The consultant the city is hiring is HDR Engineering out of Kansas City, MO and their cost is an hourly cost not to exceed $312,955.00.
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