Tell City Schedules Special Meeting to Address Water Line Replacement Concerns

The Tell City Water Board convened a special meeting Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers to confront a wave of resident questions about yard damage and other property impacts from the city's ongoing lead service line replacement program.

Officials say they have received several questions regarding yard restoration following the installation of new water service lines. The special session gave property owners a formal venue to raise concerns directly with the board.

The contractor will return to level the ground, seed, and straw affected areas, as well as address any sidewalk repairs associated with this work. Officials say all disturbed areas around residential properties will be properly restored.

To date, nearly 265 service lines have been replaced, with just as many planned this year as the city continues investing in the community's infrastructure. The Tell City water system serves 9,315 people.

Officials also put residents on notice that verbal abuse, vulgar language, or disrespect toward city employees or contractors will not be tolerated, adding that water department staff and contractors are working every day to complete the work as quickly and effectively as possible.

Lead service line replacement was listed as the primary agenda item for the meeting. The session offered a direct line between the board and the homeowners bearing the most visible disruption from a program that, by year's end, will have touched the yards of more than 500 Tell City properties.