Grand Rapids advances $21M water supply bond alongside lead line and lift station contracts

Grand Rapids advances $21M water supply bond alongside lead line and lift station contractsThe City Commission has moved forward with a series ordinance for junior lien revenue bonds while approving significant scope increases for private lead service line replacements.

A series ordinance was adopted for Water Supply System Improvement Junior Lien Revenue Bonds up to $21.05 million.

The city approved over $1 million in combined scope increases for private lead service line replacements by BRiK Plumbing and Groundhawg Excavating.

L D Docsa & Associates secured a contract of up to $1.78 million for the Orchard Vista and Alpine Estates Sanitary Lift Station project.

The Commission adopted the FY2027 Operations and Maintenance Budget for the Grand Valley Regional Biosolids Authority.

The Grand Rapids City Commission advanced several key water and wastewater infrastructure measures during its July 21, 2026, meeting, including a major bond authorization to fund ongoing capital projects. The centerpiece of the water agenda was the adoption of a series ordinance for Water Supply System Improvement Junior Lien Revenue Bonds. The authorization allows for an issuance in an amount not to exceed $21.05 million to fund upgrades to the municipal water supply network. In tandem with the bond measure, the city expanded its ongoing efforts to replace private lead service lines at various locations. Commissioners approved scope increases and additional expenditures for two existing contracts. BRiK Plumbing, LLC received an additional $538,460, bringing its total project cost to a maximum of $1,348,000. Concurrently, Groundhawg Excavating & Landscaping, LLC was granted an additional $540,000, raising its contract ceiling to a not-to-exceed total of $1,214,000. On the wastewater side, the Commission awarded a contract to L D Docsa & Associates Inc. for the Orchard Vista and Alpine Estates Sanitary Lift Station project. The contract was awarded in the amount of $1,327,000, with a total not-to-exceed limit of $1,783,185. To support this work, a budget substitution of $908,185 was also authorized for the project. Finally, the Commission formally adopted the FY2027 Operations and Maintenance Budget for the Grand Valley Regional Biosolids Authority, maintaining the region's operational framework for solids handling.