Fremont Utility Board reviews 5th Street GPR, lead-line consulting & rate first reads
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Fremont’s Utility & Infrastructure Board met July 14, 2026, reviewing 5th Street drainage-ditch investigation work, a fiber link for the John C. Fremont Park Amphitheater, and first-reading proposals for 2026–2027 utility rates.
Why Fremont is using GPR near 5th and Howard
Staff said the City Engineer was informed on July 8, 2026 of a failure in the concrete side walls of the drainage ditch near 5th and Howard Street, revealing a void under the concrete wall. To investigate further, the engineer requested a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) proposal along the ditch from Clarmar to Howard Street.
The GPR work is described as using impulse radar technology to identify voids below the concrete side walls, with 3 to 4 cross sections per block and a report and map of findings. The proposal amount is $5,915, to be paid out of the Street fund.
Amphitheater fiber upgrade: construction fee plus dark-fiber lease
Separately, staff recommended a service agreement with Great Plains Communications to connect the John C. Fremont Park Amphitheater to the city’s fiber optic network ring, so the City can “add additional security measures.”
The packet lists:
- Construction/connection charge: $3,500
- Dark-fiber lease: $9,000 total, calculated as $250/month for 36 months
Staff noted installation is estimated at 90 days, and recommended executing the agreement for the one-time $3,500 connection plus the 36-month fiber lease.
Lead service line replacement: consulting contract for planning and compliance
Inside the same board packet, the June 30, 2026 meeting minutes (approved at the July 14 meeting) show the Board recommending a consulting contract to City Council for lead service line replacement.
That recommendation was for a contract with JEO for $662,170, tied to a City Council action (Resolution 2026-164) to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement.
The RFP background describes work intended to support:
- building a baseline service line inventory and replacement plan
- data/documentation management (including a GIS tracking approach)
- construction management and bid-package development support
- property outreach and consent documentation
- grant/funding oversight and reporting
- a tap sampling program
The RFP also frames the scale of the broader effort as approximately 600 remaining lead/galvanized service lines, with a plan to replace about 100–150 per year. It cites an EPA deadline that all lead and galvanized service lines must be fully replaced by November 1, 2037, and states the City’s intent to start repairs in calendar year 2026 and complete replacements no later than December 2034.
Utility rates for 2026–2027: first readings, not final adoption
The June 30 minutes also show board motions recommending City Council hold first readings of new utility rate ordinances for 2026 and 2027.
According to the minutes, the Board voted 4–0 to recommend first readings of:
- Ordinance 5743 (electric rates for 2026–2027)
- Ordinance 5744 (natural gas rates for 2026–2027)
- Ordinance 5745 (sewer rates for 2026–2027)
- Ordinance 5746 (water rates for 2026–2027)
A first reading is an early step in the ordinance process and is not the same as final adoption. Residents and business owners who want to gauge possible utility-bill impacts will need to follow the next City Council actions after first reading, including any further votes and public comment opportunities.
What residents and business owners should watch next
- Drainage ditch investigation: the GPR is intended to clarify what’s under the concrete side walls after the July 8 failure.
- Amphitheater connectivity: fiber installation is estimated at 90 days, tied to the one-time connection fee and a 36-month dark-fiber lease.
- Lead service line planning: the consulting scope is focused on inventory, scheduling and compliance support that can drive later replacement work.
- Rate ordinance process: watch for City Council’s next steps after first readings for electric, natural gas, sewer, and water.
Sources
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