Notice of Public Meeting on DWSRF Project Planning
The City of St. Joseph, MI will hold a public meeting on the proposed lead service line replacement, water main replacement, and water facility improvement projects requested for funding assistance through the State of Michigan’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for the purpose of receiving comments from interested persons. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on May 12, 2025 at the Commission Chambers located on the second floor of City Hall, 700 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
The purpose of the proposed projects included in the DWSRF plan is to replace lead service lines throughout the City’s water system as required to meet the requirements of state and federal regulations and remove all lead service lines by 2040. A water main segment will be replaced where it has exceeded its expected life and to improve the water system capacity in the area. Additional projects will be completed in the shared water system for the City system and the shared Authority system for the surrounding communities. These projects include replacement of the water treatment plant (WTP) roofing and HVAC improvements, and coating repairs to the three elevated water storage towers in the City and Authority areas.
Project construction in the City water distribution system will involve new water service line installations, or portions of the service line, from the water main to the meter connection inside the house. A combination of excavation and trenchless installation methods will be used. A new water main will be installed on Kingsley Avenue to improve service and fire protection capacity to the St. Joseph High School and replace an existing undersized water main that has exceeded its expected life. Improvements to the WTP include replacement of the roofing in several areas to protect several treatment and laboratory areas. Other improvements at the WTP include replacement of HVAC equipment to improve dehumidification throughout the WTP to protect the existing infrastructure and its longevity. The final construction item involves coating repairs and rehabilitation to various areas on the inside and outside of the three elevated water storage towers in the water system.
Impacts of the proposed project include short-term impacts related to construction. Minor impacts will include the increase in noise and dust at the construction sites, along with emissions from both gasoline and diesel engines. Impacts resulting from construction practices will cease or be repaired at the completion of the project. During the water main replacement, there will be periods of construction where segments of the roadway are closed, backfilled with gravel, or temporarily covered The elevated tank coating replacement work will be protected and enclosed to prevent construction debris or coatings from impacting the surrounding area. No impacts are expected to historical, archeological, recreational, wetland, or agricultural resources and sites in the community.
The estimated additional cost to users in the City for the proposed projects will be $9.03/quarter for the average City residential water bill - $6.91/quarter for the lead service line replacement projects, $1.26/quarter for the water main improvement, and $0.86/quarter for the water facility projects. The typical residential water bill for customers in the Authority system is expected to increase by only $0.86/quarter because the lead service line and water main projects are not projects for the shared system.
Copies of the plan detailing the proposed project are available for inspection at City Hall and on the City of St. Joseph website. Written comments received before the meeting record is closed on Friday May 9, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. will receive responses in the final project planning document. Written comments should be sent to the City’s Engineering Department at 700 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
