State of Michigan partners with City of Flint to fund and complete yard and road restoration at 1,901 homes excavated for lead service line replacement

FLINT, Mich.—Following a request from the City of Flint, the State of Michigan today filed a motion seeking to assist the City by managing and paying for yard and road restoration at roughly 1,901 homes where lead service line excavation and replacement work has been completed pursuant to the NRDC/Concerned Pastors Settlement Agreement.

Out of $97 million in State funding allocated to Flint’s lead service line excavation, replacement, and restoration, all but roughly $1.1 to $1.2 million has been expended. The cost to complete the remaining restoration work required under the settlement agreement is approximately $4,754,500, not including additional project management costs.

To restart work as soon as possible this construction season, the City of Flint intends to transfer its engineering and construction contracts to the State of Michigan. This will allow the State to add funds to the project to complete restoration work required by the settlement agreement.

Pursuant to the Concerned Pastors lawsuit, the City of Flint is required under the Settlement Agreement (as amended) to complete restorations at properties where a service line excavation was conducted.

“We are grateful for the State of Michigan’s partnership as we work to fulfill the City of Flint’s commitments to Flint residents,” Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. “This is an important step in meeting the terms of the settlement agreement that has governed lead service line replacement in Flint since 2017. We are committed to getting the lead out at every home and we are continuing to seek funding to replace additional lead service lines beyond the terms of the settlement agreement.”

The motion filed by the State of Michigan today proposes to complete restoration at 1,901 properties as soon as possible, but not later than August 1, 2025.

Last week, the City of Flint completed lead service line work at about 30 addresses required by the NRDC/Concerned Pastors Settlement Agreement, and is now partnering with the State of Michigan to ensure that all restoration under the settlement agreement can be completed.

The City of Flint has completed 29,777 water service line excavations and identifications, including 10,529 lead service line replacements. The remaining lines were copper and did not need to be replaced.