Milford, IA (KICD) — Earlier this week we reported that Milford Municipal Utilities came to the city of Milford saying that an abandoned, galvanized, water service line should be disconnected from the main and removed. The line runs along 13th Street, which is currently being reconstructed. The approved plan was for the line to be capped.

The Main Contractor – Beck Excavation – says they could do it while their equipment is already on site for an extra 28 thousand.
The city council and MMU board met in a joint session Friday to discuss the matter. Utilities Director Brad Willemsen says another contractor verbally told him that THEY could do the project at a later time for 13 thousand dollars or less.

Both entities decided to proceed now, with the understanding MMU will cover the added expense.

Mayor Steve Anderson asked why removal of the galvanized pipe wasn’t foreseen in pre-construction meetings, saying “it’s frustrating because we worked a long time on plans and then we have last minute changes.”

Willemsen said it was an oversite, and that he only learned that the old line was galvanized steel when it was uncovered.