Mains are shown Sept. 16 on the 1000 block of West Hughitt Street in Iron Mountain, where a water and sewer project is underway. The 1000 block of West A Street is also slated for work this construction season. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Thanks to several loans and grants, Iron Mountain expects to replace all lead service lines in its water system by 2028 — 13 years ahead of a state deadline set in 2018.

The city council this week accepted a Michigan Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grant and loan offer of $5 million that will be used to replace 400 service lines.

This puts the city in a position to have all lead service lines replaced by 2028, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said. In most cases, the service lines replaced are galvanized pipes connected to water mains through a “gooseneck” that contains lead.

The latest DWSRF funding — boosted by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 — is the latest in a series of loans and grants secured by the city in the past several years. The package for a project to begin in 2026 includes a $2.5 million loan at 2% interest, plus $1.72 million in principal forgiveness and a lead and infrastructure grant of $780,000.

While the loan forgiveness and grant portion of the assistance is substantial, Stanchina on Monday said it will prompt the city to closely examine its water and sewer rates.

A survey several years ago showed Iron Mountain’s water and sewer charges among the lowest in the Upper Peninsula, although regular rate increases have occurred since. Also, the city’s most substantial bond payment from past work is due to come off its books in 2027.

The Michigan Rural Water Association, of which the city is a member, will study Iron Mountain’s rates. The city is under no obligation to accept its recommendations and there is no charge for it, Stanchina said.

“With two projects currently underway and a third planned, it essential to have a professional rate study to ensure the financial health of our utility funds,” he said in a memo to the council.

A project begun in the fall of 2024 by Ultra Construction Services of Marquette is expected to replace about 375 lead service lines. It’s funded by a DWSRF grant of $2.24 million and a $2.33 million loan at 2% interest.

This fall, Bacco Construction Co. of Iron Mountain started work on an $18.4 million sewer and water project. The water portion is funded by a 40-year DWSRF loan of $10.64 million at 2% interest, plus a $2.666 million grant. The city anticipates funding the sewer portion through a $7.63 million loan from USDA Rural Development.

The project includes 426 lead water service replacements; 11,900 feet of gravity sanitary sewer and 13,900 feet of water main; and associated road restoration totaling about 2.5 miles.

This week, the council approved a final payment to MEC Underground Solutions of Fairgrove, Michigan, which this year conducted hydro excavations at curb stops to determine whether lead was present in about 1,000 service lines. The work totaling $551,000 was entirely funded by a grant awarded through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the agency that also administers the DWSRF monies.

Stanchina noted about $44,000 remains unspent from the MEC project, but it can be put to other uses, such as improved GPS utility mapping.

In other action, the council:

— Will await terms of an anticipated state grant program that may cover 80% of the cost for recycling carts. The city will consider purchasing its own carts, rather than having them provided through a contractor, as it weighs introducing a curbside recycling program in 2026.

— Endorsed an application from Spiro’s Restaurant to participate in the city’s downtown Social District, enabling the sale of alcoholic beverages that can be consumed within the “Commons Area” of the district. Final approval rests with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

— Learned that Payne and Dolan of Gladstone will likely conduct only limited paving this fall under a $572,532 contract awarded in September, with a loop on Fairbanks Street and Golfview Drive a priority.

— During citizens’ time, heard Logan Bush suggest that more be done to recognize Robert J. Flaherty, an American filmmaker born in Iron Mountain in 1884. Considered a pioneer of documentary film, Flaherty’s works include 1922’s “Nanook of the North.” Bush said he plans to approach the Dickinson County Board about renaming Ford Airport.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.