Good afternoon, everybody.

Welcome to today's uh public works uh meeting.

We're gonna give it a minute uh to see if we can get a quorum.

If not, we'll start the meeting as an informational meeting so that we can respect uh everyone's time.

Uh happy Wednesday, everybody.

We'll get started in a minute.

Yeah, let's yeah, the call roll call, please.

Thank you, Councilmember.

We'll call.

Councilmember Thomas.

Present.

Councilmember Jerry South.

Councilmember Harris.

Councilmember King.

Councilmember Green.

We have two members.

We do not have a quorum.

We don't have a quorum, so we can't approve the minutes.

And I don't think there's anything official to uh uh to vote on, but if we could have uh our uh surgeon waterboard director uh come and start his presentation, we'll get right into the meeting.

Introduce yourselves and who's at the uh table with you, and we'll get started.

When you're ready.

Okay, good morning.

I'm Randy Heyman, executive director of the Sewage and Water Board.

I have with me today Gray Lewis, Chief Financial Officer, and Becky Becca Johnsey, Deputy Superintendent of Water Programs.

I appreciate having the opportunity today to come to speak with you about the lead service line replacement program.

Next slide.

Yes.

As you know, EPA's lead and copper rule improvements were published in January 2024 with a compliance start date of 2027.

As part of our stakeholder outreach, the lead service line replacement program was presented to the public works committee in October 2024 to increase awareness around this important issue.

For the LCRI, all lead service lines are required to be removed by 2037.

This equates to a cost of approximately 1 billion dollars to replace all lead service lines in Arleens Paris.

Uh, this effort is mostly unfunded.

SWIPNO has secured 86 million dollars in SRF loans, and we anticipate closing on another 66 million SRF loans in Q1 of 2026.

The requirement of the funding is that the public and private side must be lead-free to be reimbursed.

LCRI requires publication of LSL inventory and annual notification to homeowners with lead galvanized and unknown service line.

Customers received notification letters in 2024 and 25.

This year we prioritized a contract for service line inspections and replacements geared toward protecting our most risk residents at New Orleans schools and early learning centers.

And in the diagram we have here.

However, particles from lead pipes and plumbing fixtures can leach into the water as it travels from the treatment plant to the taps.

The public service line runs from the water main to the property line, and the private service line runs from the property line to the point of entry of the residents.

The water service lines are typically composed of copper, plastic, galvanized steel, lead, and they are classified as unknown if we do not have a definite definitive record showing the material type.

The lead materials, the lead service line inventory is governed by lead and copper rule improvements for the EPA.

Next, you have our public interactive inventory map.

SWIPNO published an interactive inventory map in October 2024, where customers can look up their address and view their public utility and private customer side service line.

It's important to understand there are two sides to the line.

First part of is the public side, and then the second part is the private side, which the homeowner is responsible for at this time.

For our inventory, Swimot has 75% unknowns.

A service line is classified as unknown when we do not have a definitive record showing the customer's material type.

Regulations state that unknowns must be treated as lead service lines until verified otherwise.

This map also incorporates predictive modeling performed by Blue Conduit that shows the likelihood of service lines being lead or non-lead.

Service lines are assumed lead when the possibility of lead is greater than 80% and assumed a non-lead when the probability of lead is less than 20%.

These predictions do not change material classifications, and the material types remain unknown.

The next is a timeline that is centers on the procurement for a program project management firm.

An important part of the program is the selection of a project management firm.

The efforts to secure a project management firm to assist with this important program began several years ago.

As part of a bidding protest, my final decision to reissue the procurement for the project management firm was distributed to respondents on December 9th, 2025.

We anticipate that the contract will be re-advertised in Q1, first quarter of 2026, due to the revisions required to the technical specifications to incorporate the responses to the questions asked during the first bid period, as well as to complete Swibno's internal process for a contract solicitation review and advertisement.

It's important to note that we had several questions.

I think it was in the hundreds of questions that we had to respond to.

We have to take the time to go through those questions and incorporate them into the RFP.

Why do you want to do that?

Because they are questions that will come up again in the second RFP.

And we want to make sure that we're able to go as streamlined and as quickly and as efficiently as we can.

So those have to be incorporated into the document.

We recognize the importance of lead service line replacement as it relates to public health and are committed to resolving this matter promptly in order to begin work as soon as possible, as well as protect the federal funding resources already secured for this program.

We were able to optimize and truncate the normal procurement process.

The normal rebid timeline would take until mid-Q4 2026 for the reward award, whereas the optimized timeline is to have an award at the beginning of Q3 2026, beginning and bringing the date forward by approximately five months.

Because we know that lead can enter the water supply from lead pipes and fixtures.

We have historically taken steps to protect the community.

We use a process called corrosion control to minimize the tendency for lead to dissolve into the water from pipes, lead solder, and plumbing fixtures in homes.

Testing is another critical element to ensure safe drinking water.

We also offer lead testing for customers upon requests.

Service line replacements is another part of our effort.

We historically replaced lead service lines on the utility-owned property side when identified, and we coordinate the replacement on private property when the property owner replaces theirs.

We have prioritized sensitive populations and put out a contract for service lines inspections and replacement at New Orleans schools and early learning centers.

We provide information about lead through informational material like our website, door hangers, and our consumer confidence report mailed to every customer each year.

We have established a picture request and pickup program for customers who have concerns about lead in their drinking water.

SWIVNOT has consistently met all federal and state requirements.

While the contract for a program management firm is being re-advertised, we intend to issue construction contracts for inspections and replacement of service lines.

The intent is to begin procurement efforts for these new contracts in early 2026.

Increased inspections will lead to an improved inventory, which is important to determine the high level of funding needed.

It's one of the first tasks that needs to be undertaken with the federal funds awarded.

However, future receipt of federal funds, such as those presently available with low no interest loans from the EPA will be dependent upon the board's financial position to take on additional debt.

Work continues to pursue a legal path forward to be able to utilize existing fund sources on private property.

A requirement of the funding is that the public and private side must be lead-free in order to get reimbursed for the replacement.

All corrosion control and protection measures will remain in place, including distribution of filter distributing uh distributed, I'm sorry, picture filters for residents with known lead or unknown materials, providing water testing to our residents, as well as corrosion control measures.

Mr.

Chair, that is my uh presentation for today, and we're open for questions.

Mr.

Hammond, thank you, Councilmember Harris.

I'd like to start with the the pictures uh since that's what you ended with.

So Brita Pictures, I just Googled some actually screen out lead.

That's correct, and those are the those are the types that you're distributing.

Is that correct?

That's right.

It's a picture with the filter and it screens out the lead particles.

What about replacement filters?

My experience with Rita Pictures is that you need to replace the filter every so often.

Are you providing the filters for replacement?

So these filters have a six-month uh filter associated with the initial filter.

Uh, there are requirements at the LCRI that when the replacement happens, there has to be a picture given at that time.

Um, and that regulation starts in 2027.

So right now, a resident can request a picture filter.

Uh, this is includes the six-month filter if they have a residence of Orleans Parish and the service line material is either known lead or unknown category.

So they can request it online and come pick it up from either our St.

Joseph office, our West Bank um office, or the same time we are one six-month filter, which actually beyond that would require them to replace the filter.

Well, I I mean, we know that we live in a poor community where people might not have the money to replace these very expensive Britta filters.

Is there a plan going forward that you provide the replacement filters every six months to somebody who's requested them while they're waiting for their lead lines to be replaced?

We haven't designed that portion yet.

I would encourage you to design that portion because people are having to choose between uh Britta filter and feeding their kids, they're gonna feed their kids and not go get a filter for their Brit of pitcher that you know is screening out this led.

So I would encourage you to design that and then report back to this committee.

Absolutely.

Of course, we're limited by the funds that we have, but as we get able to obtain additional funding, uh, we will incorporate.

Okay, great.

Um, I I assume that you you are assuming lead based on the age of particular neighborhoods, is that correct?

That's correct.

So, for example, my district is strictly built, all houses have lead pipes.

Uh so the probability model that was utilized, we're only assuming lead if it's a greater than 80% probability.

They used many different uh sources of information.

This is includes neighbors, uh definitive records, it includes the age of the home, any permits that were on file, our plumbing cards, all of that was spelled and uh included into their predictive model.

And what about the testing?

Because you said people can lead testing kids.

Are you then asking people to report positive results?

So we keep track of all of the reporting and we provide all positive results that are above the action level two LDH.

And then we also communicate directly to the customer that we need to do and ways that they can also proactively protect themselves.

Um, but any time that there is a test that was also included in the definitive records, but any time a test is high, we have all the normal reporting articles.

Okay.

Um you talked about whether or not a customer has lead on their side, um is unknown.

On when you when you test these pipes or when you start replacing a pipe, can you tell if a customer has lead on their side or no?

Usually it requires some digging to determine that.

So for the most part, we don't have the knowledge of the of the private side.

Uh it's and basically I'll let you go into more detail, but it's for the homeowner has to determine what they have, and if they have lead, but they don't have lead and we don't have lead, then we can make the replacement.

Or if we have lead, we make the replacement and we're able to go to go forward.

But we won't be reimbursed unless there isn't lead on both sides, and that's the critical part of it.

Say that again.

You will not be ready not be reimbursed if there is if there we have to make sure that there isn't lead on both sides.

That there is not lead on both sides.

Okay.

So you come to my house, you dig out the lead pipe, and there's not lead on my side because my house was recently renovated.

Then you get reimbursed in that instance.

I think so.

Yeah, so the in-state has to be lead-free service lines.

So right now, if the customer side is lead-free, as you described, we could come in and replace the public side, the in-state would be lead-free, and that would be a reimbursable job from our current funding source.

If the resident side has lead service lines, we do not have the legal mechanism right now to utilize these funds for that replacement free of cost to the customer.

And that's what we're actively pursuing a pack to be able to replace these lines at no cost to the customer.

Okay, so I have some logistic questions and some number questions.

How many do you know lead lines have been replaced by that?

Can you get that information?

And then we have reports where there was a lead, for example, on 31 street that caused a service cut, which are the bane of all of our existence.

So how are you keeping track of these service cuts that are caused by lead line replacements?

We know that we do need to coordinate very well with DPW to know who's doing which replacement, especially when we have any work in the street.

Um we've started those conversations and they're going to continue.

Um we do our so that we know where the cuts are happening happening, and also so that we can hold those contractors accountable to come back and complete the restoration.

Uh we want to make sure that we're not leaving any areas unpaved when we are doing these cuts with any existing road work.

So, for example, there are several JIR projects in my district in only old neighborhoods where we can assume that the pipes are lead, or you probably know.

Are you coordinating replacement of those lead lines with JIRR projects?

Yes, there are line items in every JIR project that's currently on the street.

Um, and every time they are encountered, they are replacing it.

And I want to also add that we have very good communications with the city and all the utility world, you don't want to pave a street and then have the water get to the city.

Oh, I know and tear it up.

I uh it happens all the time, but it happens all the time.

So I know you're saying you have great coordination, but it happens all the time.

I I can give you ten locations where street has been repaved, redone from the surface from below surface up, and then there's a service cut that's made right after it's finished.

So I to say that the nation that's worn out by the data.

And I hear you.

All right, thank you.

Councilmember Harris, um, my she wrote.

Uh I love it when uh a blend of intellect and and human capacity come together.

There are some who, and first of all, thank you for your your questioning.

Some maybe they think it's about a contract, it's really not.

Uh this is about a health issue.

And would you would you probably have researched and know, is what maybe Councilmember Green and I already know, back in the 80s and 90s when the two-line environmental study in your district.

With lead poisoning, and the impact that it had on that community.

And still on that community.

So this really, we're not here about who or how we hear about the history in the city of New Orleans.

We have a sew consent decree now.

Uh we have lead uh line removal issues.

And and so we're here not just to update the public, but really salmon, first of all, thank you.

You've you uh have inherited this kind of dropped in your lab, but it's been dropped on New Orleans for quite some time.

The language that was used uh the first time this was awarded was vital and urgent.

That it is vital and urgent that I can kind of quote some of the public language used by people who were there when you weren't.

Vital and urgent that we start this effort, first of all, so that we don't jeopardize the funding.

And then secondly, one of the terms was used that we have to get this done by the end, Councilmember Harris of 2024.

That's what the leadership at the sewage and water board determined that based on the history of what was outlined by Councilmember Harris and stuff that Councilmember Green and I know, because you know, we focus we were around when those Sulain and lead poisoning uh studies were done, and and the impact that it had on learning, growth, people's quality of people's lives, that y'all move forward, the board move forward with post has vital, urgent, get it done by the end of 2024.

What changed?

So why is it now that we can have a timeline that not only doesn't get it done, Councilmember Harris, by 2024, but has the community deal with those same issues for the next couple years.

And if you could explain that to the public, because this kind of fell in your lap, yes.

But why is it not urgent or vital now when it was urgent and vital then?

It remains urgent.

It remains that we have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of the community.

We had a process that we had to go through to pick the uh project management team, and basically the feasibility part of it took about five months.

Um basically we had about in total six months of the procurement selection process and all, and then it became it was uh there was a to me, and that took about 90 days to go through.

So, because of the bid protest, instead of the final award was actually in May 2025.

But for the bid protest, we would have gone forward at that time.

But the individuals, uh the protesters have a legal right to protest it.

So that had added additional time.

At that point, it was reviewed by the hearing officer, they came to their decision.

It was given to me to review, and I came to my decision.

Uh, my decision, uh, as you are aware, and I'm limited on what I can say, but basically that the selection process was not totally in line with what the RFP said, especially when it when it came to there would be five members, one of them would be selected by the executive director to be an expert in the field of his choosing, his choosing was health.

Uh, we didn't have that person, okay, and they didn't take action, the board didn't take action to remedy that.

So you questioned in your research when it came to you, you had questions about not just who, but the entire selection process.

The selection process.

And this is why.

If we do not follow state, federal, and local laws, and we do not follow our own RFP, we can do all of this work and end up not being reimbursed by EPA.

And so it is a critical that we do it properly and that we do it right.

You know, the easiest thing in the world for me to do is just check it and accept and go on.

And so, Councilman Harris, this this is important based on your institutional historical knowledge about the state of the community, but it's also important to know that the prior board leadership made a selection with the effort to act post-HACE based on the history and its impact in our community, and our current director uh found issues with the bid.

So you're saying that that first bid never should have been awarded.

I would not say it never should have been re awarded.

I say that I felt that they did not follow the RFP, and as a result, I came to the conclusion that I had.

And and at that point, there is a administrative legal procedure that goes forward, meaning that we rebid and we go forward with the bid.

And as you know, there are other major projects here and across the country where there's a need to rebid when there's a mistake.

Again, if we go forward with a bid that is flawed, then inherently we will have problems at the end when we try to receive reimbursement.

But but isn't it true also that if we tarry and waste time, we could jeopardize funding also?

So there has to be a balance of both, correct?

But it needs to be a balance of the body.

Especially given this this funding environment.

Yes, sir.

Right now, uh, there hasn't been any direct instruction of any kind of clawback on federal funding, but I understand what you're saying, and I respect that.

So when the bid protests came out, could you share with us, and especially if uh especially covering yourself legally and and especially because this issue could wind up being a legal matter at some point, especially since there was a protest.

What were those couple of things that we need to know so we can go back to our community and talk about what gave you concern and what made you feel comfortable knowing that the right thing to do was to throw out the initial award, ignore some of the uh recommendations to combine the two and actually start all over again, given how urgent this particular contract uh was that in the picture that was painted to the public about how urgent it was to move forward with this.

yourself legally and and especially because this issue could wind up being a legal matter at some point especially since there was a protest what were those couple of things that we need to know so we can go back to our community and talk about what gave you concern and what made you feel comfortable knowing that the right thing to do was to throw out the initial award ignore some of the uh recommendations to combine the two and actually start all over again given how urgent this particular contract uh was that in the picture that was painted to the public about how urgent it was to move forward with this okay well in the final decision I noted that the board's policy memorandum number 95 requires all proposal submissions to be evaluated and scored by a selection evaluation committee comprising of five members including the expert employer or nonemployee in the field determined by the executive director this requirement was stated clearly in the request for proposal thus the last minute loss of the committee's designated expert on health policy and the subsequent failure to appoint a replacement marks a potential unlawful deviation from the board's own RFP instructions this departure violates fundamental principles and competitive selection and justifies resolicitation sought by the uh by the board um and so that's the decision that we we we came to that the RFP said must there must be five members including the must and may shell and maze may and the debate that has affected up affected our community more than any yes and and in legal training I was always taught if it says shell you have to follow that if it's May or if it's completely quiet there may be some legal room.

In this case it said you must have five and we didn't and we didn't have one in the in in the health area that the executive director chose to use for a lead removal program um and and that's it and so you know we made a decision on that the the the protester also wanted there to be two awards given but again the RFP did not allow that okay the RFP was for one and going forward we could very well put language in there that leave it to the to the discretion of the board to have to allow two to go forward should they see fit and see us in the best interest of the city that that was not in the RFP.

And so given how vital this is and the concerns raised by councilmember Harris that those this discussions were around when Councilmember Green and I worked here in the past especially as an environmental issue it's safe to say that had your team been evaluating this proposal it would not have gone out I have to be I want to be clear I am committee as looking at it similar to the way a judge would look at it I'm reviewing what was given to me.

So we didn't have a second selection committee look at it.

I'm pointing to what I see are flaws within the four corners of the document the document is clear and uses the word must and that was not followed.

So let's get into one one of uh I think the important points and thank you it's vital and urgent that we do something here we are already under sue a consent decree uh lead line lead poisoning the studies here have impacted this community for decades access to filters certain communities older communities we know that they're still in jeopardy as you said Mr.

Heyman right now what are we doing while we're prolonging this issue or deferring this contract to make sure that we're minimizing or eliminating the effects of lead poisoning in a city that has a history of it and especially communities like Central City and many other O line communities that have led the nation in lead poisoning per capita for many years.

So to Councilmember Harris's question what do we do now while we delay this urgent and vital issue to make sure that the health concerns are mitigated good question I appreciate it one of the main things that we do is one we continue making sure that we assist the most needy in our community which are the the young children so the the schools and the early education facilities we continue to remove lead there.

And and not to stop you but that but you is it's you're familiar with that most of the studies on lead poisoning talk about how they impact and stunt uh student growth and learning said a major impact here in New Orleans and older cities.

We we can also there are so there are steps residents can take to protect themselves, use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula when water hasn't been used for six hours or longer, run the faucet for three to five minutes.

You can request a lead kit from SwimNO, request water uh that filters and use a filter that meets the NS4 standard 53 as recommended practice to protect your your family in this process.

So I'm gonna run the water for three, especially if I'm and that's why I keep referring to you like you were here in the past when we had these discussions decades ago.

Are you gonna recalibrate uh my bill so that I'm running the line to get those particles out to make the water as safe as possible, and then that you're not gonna bill me for putting my family's environmental health and safety first?

Will there be just like the filters?

If I uh foring we're we're running our our our line, our bill is going up every time we want to use the water, especially if we rely on drinking water.

Will there be an opportunity for that?

Options okay.

Okay, okay, good.

Good.

Good.

I just thought that was important because one of the discussions lights go out, but my bill doesn't change.

I hear you.

I hear you.

Yeah, you know, yeah.

And again, so what you're gonna see now because you you're kind of new here, you haven't done a lot of this, the lot of age old things that are still now.

So it's not that it's personal to you, but it's personal to us because we we've been dealing with it.

And there are a lot of questions that they aren't new now.

If New Orleans could check questions and get them off the box, the city wouldn't be in many cases wouldn't be in the condition that it's in.

This issue for some of us is less political and less about who gets it than what we've gotten.

And what we've gotten in communities like the one I grew up in, and the one council member Harris represents, is we've gotten the short end of the environmental stick, the short end of the political stick, and everything but the fact that those questions have been answered.

And what maybe you and your team may want to do is go and take a look at some of those two lane uh uh lead and lead poison and some of those environmental impacted city and parts of our old community, so that you'll understand that maybe when you're dealing with this, uh you have to address this.

It's not just about who gets a contract or who does the work who gets the award.

It's the fact that has stunned development in this community.

People have died from it, they've not been able to live out their health uh social dreams because of it.

It's been a real issue.

So I didn't mean to cut you off there.

Uh, but when people here run your water, and but they know it has an impact on that's another we can evaluate okay, and and uh you know we will gladly do that.

It's important to understand in this conversation too that the water that comes from Swivno, the sewage and water board does not contain lead.

Yeah, uh when once it goes through the you guys filtrate.

Yes, yes.

And so, but I I hear what you're saying.

I'm not I'm willing to look at all options to amount to the degree that uh it can be done.

Okay, all right.

And I didn't mean to cut you off, so I know you wanted to finish some points.

If not, we can get to more questions.

I was at my last point.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Harris.

Well, I I always ask this when utilities come and say their the information is online.

Um many of our community don't have online access, especially our elders, so I would encourage you to get into churches with this information.

I assume that it's distributed with a bill, a paper bill for those who get paper bills.

Is that correct?

Uh you send an individual letter for the regulations every note.

Right.

And it's a pickup rather than delivery of the picture.

That's true.

So what do we do with the political situation in those instances we have been able to deliver pictures as residents?

You have been able to deliver pictures.

Okay.

And I would encourage you to any community meeting that we have with a stock of pictures.

I would encourage you to uh get at the council on aging with a stock of pictures.

You know, you're you're replacing any distribution at schools, so people aren't asking pictures when they're right there to be picked up quickly and without any sort of boundary or uh deterrent factor.

Okay.

Yes, those are all good suggestions.

Thank you.

Uh any other council members before I I make a couple of last points.

Uh first of all, Councilmember Harris, thank you for setting the table.

Uh and for everyone who's paying attention to this, this has been uh an issue in New Orleans for a very, very long time.

And it still does.

Uh I think it was important for you to be on a record saying that because you're the leader of this agency now, and that had you looked at this procurement, especially for doesn't go away.

So while we're not meeting 2024, we're venturing to potentially 26, 27, and 28, the health concern is still there.

But in your expert opinion, and I'm I'm not an attorney, uh, I get to play one every now and then when that I sit on this side, and I've seen enough lawyers screw stuff up to know that sometimes you don't have to be one, but I've also listened and watched some good ones, and I'm sure you're a good one.

Uh is there any potential, especially given some of the health concerns and some of the things Councilmember Harris raised, that maybe we could put an emergency push on this, uh speed up the the deadline.

Are you guys considering looking at that?

Absolutely.

Okay.

Absolutely.

I um I instructed staff to sharpen the pencils.

Okay, to put pressure on the consultant that's helping us put together RFP.

We were able to cut off five months in the process.

What happens after that is that some of it is the work of the work, which takes a certain amount of time for the engineers to put on put together the the um the complex program.

And so I'm stressing it, even though I I said to you it may it may be another year, I'm gonna go back to the consultants and put fire on them to try to do the best they can to sharpen their pencils again.

So we'll continue to push to try to get this done as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

As well as it's important that to answer uh councilmember Harris's question about how do we provide or mitigate potential harm in areas?

How do we know just like we want to know which one of those 27-inch drains have been replaced to allow the water to flow into the outflow system for the sewage and water board?

What areas uh well where where has the lead line replacement been?

Which areas still have old potential lead lines, and if at least if you could show us those of us who have represent districts, get us that information.

I know we look forward to it.

I I don't only have a few weeks, but uh my colleagues who uh be here, and I know councilmember Harris is not gonna stop asking questions, uh not just about contract awards, but the impact that this important work has to have on our community.

If you could get us that information as well as filter systems for those who may not or may not qualify, how do we provide that?

Uh our elderly.

Uh Ms.

Heyman, I'll give you some Dorothy May Taylor in the past.

She's one of our late civil rights icons, first African-American woman to ever serve in the legislature, first ever on the city council.

Uh, whenever there was a sewage and waterboard issue, uh, she would always talk about uh how do we protect our elders and seniors?

If there were costs, how do we shelter them for similar to the line of question from council member uh Harris?

How do we do that?

Because in many cases, uh they not only can they not afford to wait, but if they wait with their increases in penalties and costs, the burdens that are passed on, they can't afford that either.

So any uh closing comments from you on this issue.

I would just say that and thank you for coming.

Uh you know, uh some of us are not as scary, and we really not.

We really we we d you know, uh, and I was so glad Councilmember Harris set the table the way she did because some who some thought this was just about uh work or or or country.

This is a much bigger issue in this whole glorious grimy city now where you're a resident that we're glad to have you.

There are health concerns, public health concerns, delivery of governmental service concerns that are the same as they were 40, 50, 60 years ago.

And the little bit that I do know about you is that you not only want to check the boxes to get the work done, you want to check the box so it's not a box anymore.

Mr.

Hamer.

Absolutely.

Well, thank you again for inviting us to speak today.

Um the bottom line is at the sewer and water board, we're made up of water professionals.

That's the term I use.

I include that with the maintenance person to the assistants, to the engineers, to the executive director.

We care about this community.

We live in the community, and we are dedicated to protecting the health and safety of this community.

Removal of lead is one of the mandates that we have to follow.

We are determined to do that.

Um we have a situation where the RFP and the selection process had to be rebid.

Nevertheless, we are dedicated to doing as quick quickly and efficiently and promptly as we can.

We've cut off almost half a year off the current uh process, and I'm looking to cut more if at all possible.

We are a partner with you in addressing this problem, and we'll continue to keep you informed.

Thank you.

Let's do roll call now so we can at least make this a formal meeting and approve the minutes from the last one.

Yeah, we did roll call but we can recognize Councilmember King.

Councilmember Green is being present, four members.

Uh 2025 meeting.

Move by me, second by councilmember green, all in favor.

I have it so ordered.

Uh uh, we have one speaker, Gracie Lewis.

Not here.

Uh move by Councilmember Green to adjourn, second by the chair, all in favor.

I said, guys, thank you all.

God bless you.

Happy holidays to everybody too, you and your families.

Happy holidays,